US forces say they have killed a leader of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist militia in Syria. As the US Central Command announced on the online platform
The attack took place in an area that was previously controlled by the Syrian regime around deposed ruler Bashar al-Assad and Russia. Such air strikes are carried out specifically to “disrupt and impair the intentions of terrorists to plan, organize and carry out attacks,” Centcom said.
USA claims: IS terrorist militia wants to free thousands of followers from prison
The United States and its allies will not allow IS to take advantage of the current situation in Syria and regroup, it said. According to US information, the jihadist terrorist militia intends to free the more than 8,000 IS members who are currently being held in facilities in Syria. “We will target these leaders and agents, including those who attempt to conduct operations outside Syria,” said Centcom commander Michael Erik Kurilla.
After the fall of al-Assad, outgoing US President Joe Biden declared that IS would now “use every vacuum” to spread again in Syria. The USA would prevent this. Since then, US forces have increased their attacks on IS positions in Syria.
CENTCOM troops kill ISIS leader in precision strike in Syria
On December 19, US Central Command Forces carried out a precision airstrike on ISIS leader Abu Yusif alias Mahmud in Syria's Dayr az Zawr province, killing two ISIS operatives, including Abu… pic.twitter.com/g3nO68Ye1T
– US Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 20, 2024
How many US soldiers are stationed in Syria?
The US military has stationed around 2,000 soldiers in Syria and 2,500 soldiers in Iraq as part of the international anti-IS coalition. The coalition war was founded in 2014 to end the rule of the caliphate briefly established by the jihadists in Syria and Iraq.
The Pentagon announced on Thursday the number of 2,000 US troops for Syria, after US officials had put the number at 900 this year. “About 2,000 US soldiers have been in Syria for several months,” said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder. The additional soldiers would be considered “temporary forces” and should support the mission to combat IS.
Fighters led by the Islamist HTS rebels captured Damascus on December 8th, ending Assad's decades-long rule in Syria. Assad, accused of kidnapping, torturing and murdering dissidents, fled to Russia. (with AFP)
