From the Daily Caller: American military forces carried out a strike in Syria which killed an al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist directly linked to a Dec. 13 ISIS attack which killed two Iowa National Guardsmen and one U.S. civilian in the country, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Saturday.
The Friday strike was the third CENTCOM executed as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which the Department of War (DOW) combatant command launched in retaliation for the ambush which killed Guardsmen Sgts. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and William Nathaniel Howard, as well as their interpreter. CENTCOM previously carried out attacks against ISIS targets in Syria on both Dec. 19, 2025 and Jan. 10.
In a press release on Saturday, CENTCOM announced:
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted a strike in northwest Syria on Jan. 16, that resulted in the death of a leader affiliated with Al-Qaeda who had direct ties to an ISIS terrorist responsible for an ambush which killed two U.S. service members and an American interpreter on Dec. 13, 2025.
Bilal Hasan al-Jasim was 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.
“The death of a terrorist operative linked the death of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander. “There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you.”
CENTCOM launched large-scale strikes in Syria in response to the Dec. 13 attack. The operation, dubbed Hawkeye Strike, resulted in U.S. and partner forces hitting more than 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons site targets with over 200 precision munitions.
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.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 17, 2026
The Iowa National Guard had shared photos on X of the two guardsmen who were killed in the December 13 attack.
Official Iowa National Guard photos of Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard and Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar. pic.twitter.com/1DtYTovL0u
— Iowa National Guard (@IowaNatGuard) December 15, 2025
Upon arrival, the Iowa National Guard Honor Guard conducted an honorable transfer of remains to ceremoniously receive them from the aircraft. (U.S. Army National Guard photos by 1st Sgt. Jason Everett and Spc. Armani Wilson)
— Iowa National Guard (@IowaNatGuard) December 24, 2025
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