A US strike in Syria killed a militant leader linked to a deadly December ambush on American personnel, as operations against Islamic State continue.
WASHINGTON: The US military says a strike in northwest Syria has killed a militant leader linked to a deadly attack on American personnel last month.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the Friday operation, identifying the target as Bilal Hasan al-Jasim.
CENTCOM described al-Jasim as an experienced terrorist leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected with the ISIS gunman in the December 13 ambush near Palmyra.
That attack killed two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.
CENTCOM stated al-Jasim was affiliated with Al-Qaeda but did not elaborate on his links to Islamic State or the Palmyra attacker.
Syria’s interior ministry has said the IS gunman was a member of the security forces slated for dismissal due to extremism.
The strike occurred one week after large-scale US and allied strikes against Islamic State in Syria.
It is part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, launched in response to the December attack.
CENTCOM said the operation has seen US and partner forces hitting more than 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons site targets.
More than 300 IS fighters have been captured and 20 killed in Syria over the past year.
Islamic State, which seized swathes of Syrian and Iraqi territory in 2014, was ultimately defeated by local forces backed by international air strikes.
The group maintains a presence in Syria, particularly in the country’s vast desert regions.
