The US military has delivered a powerful blow to Al-Qaeda in Syria with a targeted airstrike that took out a high-ranking leader connected to ISIS. Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, the operative killed in the January 16 Hawk Eye strike in northwest Syria, was instrumental in the deadly Palmyra attack last month that claimed three American lives.
CENTCOM’s confirmation of the strike highlights al-Jasim’s role as a senior terrorist with deep ISIS links, including ties to the gunman behind the December 13 assault on US bases. This retaliation follows a series of attacks, prompting a robust US response.
‘We neither forget nor surrender,’ affirmed US War Secretary Pete Hegseth. Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM head, reinforced the offensive stance: attackers of US warfighters face relentless pursuit, with no refuge anywhere.
As the latest in three waves of strikes post-Palmyra, Operation Hawk Eye has devastated ISIS capabilities. Partner forces joined in bombing over 100 infrastructure and weapons sites using 200+ precise weapons, aimed at halting attack planning.
Complementing air power, ground raids last year netted 300+ ISIS fighters and killed 20 more. With hundreds of US troops stationed in Syria to combat enduring ISIS cells, these actions signal a sustained campaign against terrorism threatening American interests.
