US launches another retaliatory strike in Syria, killing leader tied to deadly Islamic State ambush

A third round of retaliatory strikes by the U.S. in Syria has resulted in the death of an Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader. U.S. Central Command says Bilal Hasan al-Jasim had a direct tie to the Islamic State member responsible for last month’s ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter in the country. It was the latest strike as part of a broader U.S. operation by President Donald Trump to target “ISIS thugs” trying to regroup after the ouster of autocratic leader Bashar Assad a year ago. Trump has stressed that Syria is fighting alongside American troops as the U.S. military is expanding its cooperation with security forces as part of a coalition fighting the militant group.