The United States said on Saturday that it launched a lethal strike in Syria against a senior al Qaeda affiliate leader. American officials said the man had direct links to an ISIS attacker who killed three Americans last year. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the operation in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 17, 2026
The strike underlined Washington’s continued focus on counterterrorism operations in the region.
CENTCOM confirms target and links to past attack
According to US forces, the man killed was Bilal Hasan al-Jasim. CENTCOM said he “was an experienced terrorist leader” and “was directly connected” to the ISIS gunman responsible for a deadly attack in Palmyra, Syria, on December 13, 2025.
That attack killed two US service members and a civilian interpreter. American officials said the latest strike directly targeted those linked to that incident.
US signals strong warning to terror groups
Reacting to the operation, CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper stressed the US position on terrorism.
“The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces,” he said.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also responded to CENTCOM’s announcement. He wrote, “We will never forget, and never relent.”
Operation Hawkeye Strike continues
Following the deadly ambush in Palmyra, the United States has stepped up military action against ISIS in Syria. These strikes fall under a campaign known as “Operation Hawkeye Strike.”
In its statement on Saturday, CENTCOM said the operation has already hit more than 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons site targets. At the same time, hundreds of American troops remain deployed in Syria as part of the US’s long-running mission to defeat ISIS.
ISIS remains key US target
Despite the December attack, ISIS has not claimed responsibility for the killings of the two US service members and the civilian interpreter. According to CNN, Syria’s Ministry of Interior Affairs said the attacker belonged to the country’s Internal Security Service.
However, Syria’s leadership quickly moved to distance the gunman from the country’s fragile new government. This government has received strong backing from the United States in recent months.