- U.S. airstrikes kill 37 militants in Syria
- Senior leaders from ISIL, Hurras al-Din targeted
- Syria opposes U.S. military presence
The U.S. military has announced that it killed dozens of fighters from ISIL (ISIS) and an al-Qaeda-affiliated group in two separate airstrikes in Syria this month.
According to a statement released by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Sunday, a “large-scale airstrike” targeted a remote ISIL camp in central Syria on September 16, killing at least 28 militants, including four senior leaders. Although CENTCOM did not specify the names of those killed, the attack was described as a blow to ISIL’s “capability to conduct operations against U.S. interests, allies, and partners.”
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In another strike on September 24, CENTCOM reported the death of nine fighters in northwestern Syria. Among those killed was Marwan Bassam ‘Abd-al-Ra’uf, a senior leader of Hurras al-Din, an al-Qaeda-aligned group. He was responsible for overseeing military operations in Syria. This marks the second strike targeting Hurras al-Din’s senior leadership in recent months. In August, CENTCOM announced the killing of Abu-Abd al-Rahman al-Makki, another top leader, in a separate operation.
Hurras al-Din, which emerged in Syria in 2018, is known for its links to al-Qaeda supporters. The group has become a target for U.S. operations due to its growing influence and capabilities.
The U.S. currently maintains about 900 troops in Syria, along with an undisclosed number of contractors. These forces are primarily tasked with supporting local allies in preventing the resurgence of ISIL, which had captured large areas of Syria and Iraq in 2014.
However, the Syrian government has repeatedly called for the U.S. to withdraw its forces, expressing its strong opposition to the American military presence in the country.
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