The United States military conducted precision strikes in Syria on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of 37 terrorist operatives. Among the casualties were multiple high-ranking leaders from both ISIS and Hurras al-Din, an Al-Qaeda affiliated group.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the strikes in a statement, emphasizing that these operations were part of their ongoing commitment to combatting terrorism. Alongside regional partners, CENTCOM aims to disrupt and hinder terrorist activities, specifically targeting those who plan, organize, and carry out attacks against American personnel, allies, and partners throughout the region and beyond.
This is not the first time the US has conducted such strikes in Syria. On September 24th, CENTCOM carried out a targeted operation in northwest Syria, eliminating nine terrorist operatives, including Marwan Bassam ‘Abd-al-Ra’uf, a senior leader of Hurras al-Din. This strike followed a previous successful operation that killed another high-ranking member of the group, Abu-‘Abd al-Rahman al Makki.
Furthermore, CENTCOM reported a large-scale airstrike on September 16th at an ISIS training camp in central Syria. This strike resulted in the deaths of at least 28 ISIS operatives, including four senior leaders.
General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of CENTCOM, stressed that these strikes reflect the US commitment to defeating terrorist organizations in the region. He also confirmed that there were no civilian casualties during these operations.
It is important to note that the US has a significant presence in Syria. Approximately 900 US forces are stationed in the country, alongside an undisclosed number of contractors. Their primary mission is to prevent the resurgence of the extremist ISIS group, which seized large territories in Iraq and Syria in 2014. US forces also provide advice and assistance to their main allies in northeastern Syria, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. These forces operate near critical regions where Iran-backed terrorist groups are active, including a vital border crossing with Iraq.
