Overview
- Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, described by U.S. officials as an Al Qaeda-linked leader, was killed in Friday’s precision strike in northwest Syria.
- CENTCOM says al-Jasim had a direct connection to the Dec. 13 ambush near Palmyra that killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard and interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat.
- The strike is the latest action in the Hawkeye Strike campaign launched after the ambush to degrade Islamic State infrastructure and leadership.
- Since Dec. 13, U.S. forces report hitting more than 100 Islamic State targets in Syria with roughly 200 precision munitions, with partner support including Jordan and Syrian security forces.
- Over the past year in Syria, CENTCOM reports more than 300 suspected Islamic State members captured and more than 20 killed, which commander Adm. Brad Cooper cites as evidence of a sustained pursuit of those who attack U.S. forces.