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CENTCOM Forces Kill ISIS Leader During Precision Strike in Syria
On Dec. 19, U.S. Central Command Forces conducted a precision airstrike targeting ISIS leader Abu Yusif aka Mahmud in the Dayr az Zawr Province, Syria resulting in two ISIS operatives killed, including Abu… pic.twitter.com/g3nO68Ye1T
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 20, 2024
The text of the post reads in full:
On Dec. 19, U.S. Central Command Forces conducted a precision airstrike targeting ISIS leader Abu Yusif aka Mahmud in the Dayr az Zawr Province, Syria resulting in two ISIS operatives killed, including Abu Yusif.
This airstrike is part of CENTCOM’s ongoing commitment, along with partners in the region, to disrupt and degrade efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against civilians and military personnel from the U.S., our allies, and our partners throughout the region and beyond.
This strike was conducted in an area formerly controlled by the Syrian regime and Russians.
“As stated before, the United States — working with allies and partners in the region — will not allow ISIS to take advantage of the current situation in Syria and reconstitute. ISIS has the intent to break out of detention the over 8,000 ISIS operatives currently being held in facilities in Syria. We will aggressively target these leaders and operatives, including those trying to conduct operations external to Syria,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander.
This happens as American officials are already meeting with the leaders of the Syrian opposition group that has recently seized control of that country. The United States appears, for now at least, to be establishing a diplomatic relationship with the new Syrian government.
- The State Department envoy for hostage affairs Roger Carstens also joined the delegation.
Interestingly, the leader of that opposition, one Ahmad al-Sharaa, has been designated as a terrorist by the United States.
Part of CENTCOM’s mission is to degrade ISIS and its allies in the region as much as possible, as noted by Gen. Kurilla. It’s not clear from CENTCOM’s statement above or from Syria’s new acting government whether or not Thursday’s strike was carried out with the aid or even the knowledge of that new government.
