SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region — US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted two separate airstrikes in Syria, resulting in the deaths of 37 “terrorist” operatives, including senior leaders from ISIS and Hurras al-Din, an Al Qaeda affiliate, CENTCOM announced in a statement on Sunday.
On September 24, a targeted strike in northwest Syria killed nine operatives, including Marwan Bassam ‘Abd-al-Ra’uf, a senior Hurras al-Din leader responsible for military operations in Syria. “Hurras al-Din is aligned with Al Qaeda and seeks to conduct attacks against US and Western interests,” reads CENTCOM’s statement.
A week earlier, on September 16, CENTCOM forces launched a major airstrike on an ISIS training camp in central Syria, killing 28 operatives, including four senior leaders. CENTCOM emphasized that the strike significantly weakened ISIS’ ability to target US interests and its allies.
“These strikes reflect CENTCOM’s commitment to the defeat of terrorist organizations and regional stability,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of US Central Command.
CENTCOM also emphasized that these operations are part of ongoing efforts, in partnership with regional allies, to disrupt and degrade terrorist activities targeting US and allied personnel across the region and beyond.
