The United States military has confirmed the elimination of a high-ranking member of an al-Qaeda-affiliated group in a targeted airstrike in northwestern Syria. The operation, carried out on Friday, was aimed at a man believed to be connected to a deadly ambush that killed American troops late last year.
In a statement, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) revealed that the strike had successfully taken out the individual, who was a senior leader of Hurras al-Din, an organisation with ties to al-Qaeda. This group has been implicated in the December 2022 attack that resulted in the deaths of four US service members in the Manbij region of northern Syria.
“The removal of this al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist will disrupt the terrorist organisation’s ability to plan and carry out attacks against civilians, our partners, and our interests in the region,” said General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, the CENTCOM commander.
The airstrike, which occurred in a remote area of Idlib province, was conducted using “precision munitions”, according to the military statement. No civilian casualties were reported in the operation.
The individual targeted in the strike has not been officially named, but CENTCOM described him as a “senior leader” within Hurras al-Din, which is designated as a terrorist organisation by the United States. The group has been active in the Syrian conflict, often working alongside other extremist factions to fight against both government forces and US-backed Kurdish groups.
The December 2022 attack that prompted this latest US action took place near the town of Manbij, where American troops were conducting a routine patrol. In addition to the four US personnel killed, three others were wounded in the ambush, which was claimed by the Islamic State group.
The elimination of this al-Qaeda-linked figure is the latest in a series of targeted strikes carried out by the United States against terrorist leaders in Syria. CENTCOM has stated that it will continue to pursue and disrupt the activities of extremist groups operating in the region, in order to protect American interests and support its partner forces on the ground.