(United States, 18th) The U.S. Central Command issued a statement saying that U.S. forces have killed a leader of an al-Qaeda affiliate linked to last month's "Islamic State (ISIS)" attack on Americans in Syria.
According to Reuters, Central Command said on Saturday (January 17th) that U.S. forces launched an airstrike in northwestern Syria on Friday (16th), killing Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, a leader associated with al-Qaeda.
Authorities stated that the deceased was an experienced terrorist leader who had planned multiple attacks and had direct ties to ISIS gunmen. These gunmen orchestrated the December 13 attack in Palmyra, Syria last year, which resulted in the deaths of two U.S. soldiers and an American interpreter.
Central Command pointed out that the U.S. military has responded to this attack by using more than 200 precision-guided munitions to strike over 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons depot targets.
Authorities also said that over the past year, U.S. and allied forces have captured more than 300 ISIS militants across Syria and killed more than 20 others.
Authorities stated that the deceased was an experienced terrorist leader who had planned multiple attacks and had direct ties to ISIS gunmen. These gunmen orchestrated the December 13 attack in Palmyra, Syria last year, which resulted in the deaths of two U.S. soldiers and an American interpreter.
Central Command pointed out that the U.S. military has responded to this attack by using more than 200 precision-guided munitions to strike over 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons depot targets.
Authorities also said that over the past year, U.S. and allied forces have captured more than 300 ISIS militants across Syria and killed more than 20 others.