indus.express
20/01/2026

US Airstrike Kills Al-Qaeda Leader Linked to December Syria Ambush

Updated 1 day ago: The number of American casualties in the December 13 attack was updated from two to three, and it was specified that there were injuries to US and Syrian personnel, while the number of precision munitions used in strikes was added as over 200, along with the detail that more than 20 ISIS operatives were killed in Syria over the past year.

On Friday, US military forces killed Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, an al Qaeda affiliate leader, in Syria. Al-Jasim was linked to an Islamic State attack on December 13 that resulted in the deaths of three Americans and injuries to US and Syrian personnel. The US Central Command reported that since the December attack, it has conducted strikes against over 100 ISIS targets, using more than 200 precision munitions. Additionally, US and partner forces have captured over 300 ISIS operatives and killed more than 20 in Syria over the past year. The operation, named Hawkeye Strike, aims to eliminate threats to US forces and regional security.

Published 2 days ago • 18 Jan 2026, 03:24 AM IST

Sources