The U.S. military launched a third round of retaliatory strikes in Syria on Friday, killing an Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader with ties to an ambush attack by an ISIS gunman last month that killed three Americans, U.S. officials said.
The latest strike was conducted in northwest Syria, U.S. Central Command announced in a news release on Saturday.
"The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths 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."
The alleged Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader was identified as Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, who U.S. officials said "was directly connected" to the ISIS gunman who killed two U.S. service members and an American civilian interpreter in Palmyra, Syria, on Dec. 13.