U.S. Central Command announced Sunday that U.S. forces targeted and eliminated more than 30 terrorists in Syria in two airstrikes in mid-September.
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted two targeted attacks in Syria, killing 37 terrorist operatives, including multiple leaders of ISIS and the al-Qaeda-affiliated Hurras al-Din terrorist group,” CENTCOM said. news coverage statement It has begun.
The US military conducted its first airstrike on a remote ISIS training camp in central Syria early on September 16, according to a statement. More than 28 Islamic State of Iraq al-Sham (ISIS) operatives were reportedly killed, including at least four senior leaders.
The second airstrike occurred on September 24th in northwestern Syria. According to Centcom, among the nine terrorist operatives killed was Marwan Bassam Abd al-Rauf, a senior leader of Hurras al-Din, who is responsible for overseeing military operations from Syria.
“Hurras al-Din is an al-Qaeda-affiliated organization based in Syria with global ambitions to carry out attacks against U.S. and Western interests,” the statement continued.
CENTCOM forces also eliminated Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Makki, another senior member of Hurras al-Din, in a similar strike on August 23. According to In another statement. (Related: US partners arrest fugitive terrorist “ISIS facilitator'' suspect)
U.S. Central Command conducts targeted attacks against terrorist organizations in Syria pic.twitter.com/u62UyJvkZT
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) September 29, 2024
The airstrike symbolized CENTCOM's determination to “interrupt and undermine” terrorist activities in Syria and throughout the Middle East and beyond.
“These attacks against leaders and operatives of ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliate Huras al-Din demonstrate CENTCOM's commitment to the lasting defeat of terrorist organizations in CENTCOM's area of ​​responsibility and support for regional stability.” said Gen. Michael Eric, CENTCOM commander. Kurilla said.
“There is no evidence that civilians were harmed in either attack,” the statement said.
On April 3, 2023, the U.S. military eliminated senior ISIS leader Khalid Ayed Ahmad al-Jabouri, who contributed to the development of the terrorist organization's leadership and planned ISIS attacks in Europe.
ISIS is estimated to have between 5,000 and 7,000 members or supporters, with various affiliates sprouting up in the Middle East, Central Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
The United States maintains about 900 military personnel in Syria to prevent a resurgence of ISIS, which rampaged through Iraq and Syria in 2014 and seized vast swathes of territory, according to the Associated Press. reported.
Some military contractors reportedly also operate in Syria.
The paper added that the US military is supporting and advising the US-allied Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which is based in an area not far from strategic strongholds of Iran-linked militants.
