The strike is part of a broader American campaign ordered by President Donald Trump to pursue Islamic State fighters attempting to regroup following the fall of Bashar Assad’s government, a military operation that has now targeted more than 100 IS-linked infrastructure and weapons sites across Syria.

A U.S. airstrike in northwest Syria on Friday killed an al-Qaeda-affiliated militant leader whom military officials said was directly connected to the December ambush that killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter, U.S. Central Command announced Saturday.

CENTCOM identified the man killed as Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, describing him as “an experienced terrorist leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected” to the Dec. 13 attack that killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, and civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat.

“The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces,” Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in a statement. “There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you.”

Third round of strikes

Friday’s operation marked the third round of American retaliatory strikes since the December ambush. It is part of a broader campaign that President Donald Trump ordered to target Islamic State fighters attempting to regroup in the aftermath of the fall of Bashar Assad’s government.

CENTCOM said the operation, named “Hawkeye Strike,” has resulted in U.S. and partner forces — including Jordan and Syria — targeting more than 100 Islamic State infrastructure and weapons sites.

Syria cooperation

Trump has said that Syrian forces fought alongside American troops during the December attack and that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was “extremely angry and disturbed” by the ambush. The U.S. military has been expanding its cooperation with Syrian security forces as part of the coalition fighting Islamic State remnants.

The Dec. 13 attack struck at IS fighters who officials say sought to exploit the political transition following Assad’s ouster roughly a year ago.