US says it killed ISIS leader in precise operation in Syria

CAIRO – 20 December 2024: The US Central Command Forces (CENTCOM) announced on Friday eliminating leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) Abu Yusif, also known as Mahmud, in a “precision airstrike” yesterday.

The attack also killed another ISIS operative, the CENTCOM said in a post on X.

The command added that the attack was carried out in an area that was previously under the control of the Syrian regime and the Russians.

General Michael Erik Kurilla, the commander of CENTCOM, emphasized, that the US, in coordination with regional allies and partners, will not tolerate ISIS exploiting the current Syrian situation to regroup.

“ISIS has the intent to break out of detention the over 8,000 ISIS operatives currently being held in facilities in Syria,” Kurilla said.

“We will aggressively target these leaders and operatives, including those trying to conduct operations external to Syria,” he added.

The development comes two weeks after the fall of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad during a major offensive by opposition forces, led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), ending more than a five-decade rule by the Assad family.