On Saturday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the elimination of an al Qaeda leader in northwest Syria. This individual had direct links to an ISIS operative responsible for the December 13 attack that claimed the lives of two American service members and an interpreter.
The deceased, Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, was recognized by CENTCOM officials as a seasoned terrorist leader involved in planning attacks. He was “directly connected” to the ISIS assailant who targeted both American and Syrian personnel in Palmyra, Syria, last month.
“The elimination of a terrorist tied to the deaths of three Americans underscores our commitment to pursuing those who threaten our forces,” stated CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper. “No one who conducts or inspires attacks on American citizens and military personnel is beyond our reach. We will find them.”
In response to the December 13 attack, CENTCOM initiated extensive strikes across Syria.
On that day, two members of the Iowa National Guard and an American interpreter lost their lives in an ISIS ambush. (Images courtesy of History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images and Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images)
As part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, U.S. forces, along with their partners, targeted over 100 ISIS sites, encompassing infrastructure and weaponry, deploying more than 200 precision munitions.
More than 300 ISIS operatives were captured and more than 20 were killed across Syria within the past year, according to CENTCOM.
U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, and members of their team in Damascus on Jan. 10 to discuss recent developments in Aleppo and the broader path forward for Syria’s historic transition.
US forces patrol the town of Tel Maaruf, in Syria’s northeastern Hasakeh province. (Delil Souleiman / AFP via Getty Images)
In a statement on X, Barrack said President Donald Trump agreed to lift sanctions in order to “give Syria a chance” to move forward.
“The United States Government welcomes Syria’s historic transition and extends its support to the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa as it works to stabilize the country, rebuild national institutions, and fulfill the aspirations of all Syrians for peace, security, and prosperity,” Barrack wrote in the post.
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He added Syrian government has reaffirmed its commitment to the March 2025 integration agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), but called developments in Aleppo that “appear to challenge the terms of this agreement,” deeply concerning.
“We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, immediately cease hostilities, and return to dialogue in accordance with the March 10 and April 1, 2025 agreements between the Syrian government and the SDF,” Barrack wrote. “Violence risks undermining the progress achieved since the fall of the Assad regime and invites external interference that serves no party’s interests. … The objective remains a sovereign, unified Syria—at peace with itself and its neighbors—where equality, justice, and opportunity are extended to all its people.”
