Who is Bilal Hasan al-Jasim? Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader killed in US latest retaliatory strike in Syria under ‘Operation Hawkeye Strike’
The US conducted a retaliatory strike in Syria, killing Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader Bilal Hasan al-Jasim. Officials state al-Jasim was directly linked to the Islamic State member responsible for the December 2025 ambush that killed two US soldiers ...
By Divyadeep Singh, Global Desk |
IANS
US launches another retaliatory strike in Syria. (Representational image)
The US launched another retaliatory strike in Syria on Friday (January 16, 2026) under ‘Hawkeye Strike,’ killing an Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader, who officials say had a direct tie to the Islamic State member responsible for the December 2025 ambush that killed two US soldiers, Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, and an American civilian interpreter, Ayad Mansoor Sakat.
In December 2025, the US Central Command (Centcom) said that an Islamic State (IS) gunman was behind the ambush. According to reports, officials had said that three other service members were injured in the attack, during which the gunman was "engaged and killed." Two Syrian service personnel were also injured, BBC reported, citing Syria's state news.
Dubbing the ambush "an ISIS attack," US President Donald Trump, in a social media post, had said at that time that there would be "a very serious retaliation." Now over a month after the attack, the US responded with a third round of retaliatory strikes in Syria, resulting in the death of Bilal Hasan al-Jasim.
Who is Bilal Hasan al-Jasim?
US Central Command announced that the strike in northwest Syria on Friday killed Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, who they claim was "an experienced terrorist leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected" to the December 13, 2025, attack.
“The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces,” Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in a statement. “There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you.”
It was the latest strike as part of a broader US operation ordered by Trump following the ambush of the Americans to target “ISIS thugs” trying to regroup after the ouster of autocratic leader Bashar Assad a year ago.
The US president has stressed that Syria was fighting alongside American troops, as the US military is expanding its cooperation with security forces as part of a coalition fighting the militant group. He added at the time that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was “extremely angry and disturbed by this attack."
CENTCOM said that the operation, titled “Hawkeye Strike,” has resulted in the US and partners like Jordan and Syria targeting more than 100 Islamic State infrastructure and weapons site targets.
In December 2025, the US Central Command (Centcom) said that an Islamic State (IS) gunman was behind the ambush. According to reports, officials had said that three other service members were injured in the attack, during which the gunman was "engaged and killed." Two Syrian service personnel were also injured, BBC reported, citing Syria's state news.
Dubbing the ambush "an ISIS attack," US President Donald Trump, in a social media post, had said at that time that there would be "a very serious retaliation." Now over a month after the attack, the US responded with a third round of retaliatory strikes in Syria, resulting in the death of Bilal Hasan al-Jasim.
Who is Bilal Hasan al-Jasim?
US Central Command announced that the strike in northwest Syria on Friday killed Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, who they claim was "an experienced terrorist leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected" to the December 13, 2025, attack.
“The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces,” Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in a statement. “There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you.”
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Latest strikes part of broader operation under Trump
It was the latest strike as part of a broader US operation ordered by Trump following the ambush of the Americans to target “ISIS thugs” trying to regroup after the ouster of autocratic leader Bashar Assad a year ago.
The US president has stressed that Syria was fighting alongside American troops, as the US military is expanding its cooperation with security forces as part of a coalition fighting the militant group. He added at the time that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was “extremely angry and disturbed by this attack."
CENTCOM said that the operation, titled “Hawkeye Strike,” has resulted in the US and partners like Jordan and Syria targeting more than 100 Islamic State infrastructure and weapons site targets.
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