The U.S. military reported that two airstrikes in Syria this month killed a total of 37 militants affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) and an al-Qaeda-linked group, Hurras al-Deen. The strikes targeted extremist training camps and key leaders, significantly disrupting the operations of these groups, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
The first airstrike took place on September 16 and targeted an ISIS training camp in a remote part of central Syria. According to CENTCOM, this large-scale strike killed at least 28 ISIS operatives, including four senior leaders. The strike was intended to weaken ISIS’s ability to conduct operations against U.S. interests, allies, and partners in the region.
The second airstrike occurred on September 24 in northwestern Syria and specifically targeted members of Hurras al-Deen, an al-Qaeda-affiliated group. This strike killed nine fighters, including a senior leader, Marwan Bassam ‘Abd-al-Ra’uf, who was responsible for overseeing military operations from Syria.
CENTCOM highlighted that these strikes have dealt a significant blow to ISIS and Hurras al-Deen, both of which have tried to regain influence in Syria. By eliminating key leaders and fighters, the U.S. aims to hinder the groups’ ability to plan and execute attacks. The U.S. military stated that such operations are part of an ongoing effort to prevent these groups from re-establishing a foothold in Syria, particularly in areas they once controlled.
There are currently around 900 U.S. troops stationed in Syria, along with an undisclosed number of contractors. The U.S. forces are primarily focused on advising and assisting the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in northeastern Syria to prevent a resurgence of ISIS.
