In 3rd attack in Syria, US kills leader linked to ISIS ambush: CENTCOM
The U.S. military carried out a third round of retaliatory strikes in Syria, targeting an Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader with connections to an ISIS gunman responsible for the ambush attack that claimed the lives of three Americans last month. The strike, which took place in northwest Syria, was confirmed by U.S. Central Command in a news release.
Adm. Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, emphasized the importance of eliminating terrorists who pose a threat to American citizens and military personnel. He stated, “The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces. There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you.”
The target of the strike was identified as Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, an alleged leader affiliated with Al-Qaeda. U.S. officials revealed that al-Jasim had direct ties to the ISIS gunman responsible for the tragic incident in Palmyra, Syria, on December 13, where two U.S. service members and an American civilian interpreter lost their lives.
Following the attack in Palmyra, the U.S. launched a series of large-scale strikes in Syria under the operation name Hawkeye Strike. These strikes, conducted in collaboration with U.S. partners, focused on over 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites.
The two U.S. soldiers who tragically lost their lives in the attack were members of the Iowa National Guard. They were identified as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, from Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, from Marshalltown, Iowa.
The U.S. military remains committed to combating terrorism and ensuring the safety and security of American citizens and military personnel around the world.
