U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the militant had direct ties to an ISIS gunman responsible for an ambush on December 13, 2025, which killed two U.S. service members and an American interpreter.

In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM identified the slain militant as Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, describing him as “an experienced terrorist leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected with the ISIS gunman who killed and injured American and Syrian personnel last month in Palmyra, Syria.”

Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said: “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 operation, dubbed Hawkeye Strike, involved U.S. and partner forces targeting more than 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites with over 200 precision munitions.

CENTCOM noted that, over the past year, U.S. and partner forces have captured more than 300 ISIS operatives and killed over 20 militants across Syria, significantly disrupting networks that posed direct threats to the United States and regional security.