American forces have eliminated a senior al-Qaeda-linked operative in Syria tied directly to a deadly December ambush that claimed the lives of two Iowa National Guardsmen and a U.
S. civilian, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Saturday.
According to WND, the strike, conducted Friday, marked the third operation under the banner of Operation Hawkeye Strike, a targeted campaign launched by the Department of War in response to the Dec. 13 ISIS attack. That ambush killed Guardsmen Sgts. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and William Nathaniel Howard, along with their interpreter, underscoring the persistent threat posed by Islamist terror networks that many in Washingtons political class have been too eager to downplay.
CENTCOM identified the slain terrorist as Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, describing him as an experienced al-Qaeda affiliate leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected with the ISIS gunman responsible for the Americans deaths. The command stressed that al-Jasims removal was a direct consequence of his operational role in the December assault, not a symbolic gesture.
The death of a terrorist operative linked the death of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces, CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said in the release. He added that the United States remains committed to tracking down those who target American troops, even in remote and lawless regions.
There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters, Cooper emphasized. We will find you.
Secretary of War responded to CENTCOMs announcement on X with a pointed message of resolve, writing, We will never forget, and never relent, echoing the same words he used after a related strike the previous week. His statement reflects a posture of sustained pressure on jihadist networks, a stance long favored by conservatives who argue that deterrence requires decisive, repeated action.
Operation Hawkeye Strike has so far led to U.S. and partner forces hitting more than 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons site targets with over 200 precision munitions, CENTCOM reported. Additionally, U.S. and partner forces have captured more than 300 ISIS operatives and killed over 20 across Syria during the past year, removing terrorists who posed a direct threat to the United States and regional security, the release continues.
For families of the fallen Guardsmen and for Americans who still believe in a strong, unapologetic national defense, the message from the battlefield is clear: the United States is still willing to hunt down its enemies before they can strike again.
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