United States Central Command (CENTCOM) forces eliminated a senior ISIS commander and his two sons, also terrorists from the same organization, in an operation carried out in northern Syria, according to the U.S. military this Friday through a post on X.
The action was part of a joint mission with troops from the new Syrian regime, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, within the framework of Washington's growing support for Damascus to contribute to the country's reconstruction after 14 years of civil war, despite ongoing sectarian violence.
“Early this morning in Al Bab, Aleppo province, Syria, CENTCOM forces conducted a raid that resulted in the death of ISIS leader Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani and his two adult sons affiliated with ISIS, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani”, CENTCOM stated.
According to the statement, the three represented a direct threat to both U.S. forces and the coalition as well as the new Syrian government. At the site of the operation, there were also three women and three minors, who were not injured. This was the first joint operation conducted between U.S.-led forces and the Damascus regime.
Although Syrian authorities have not issued official statements about the operation, local sources in al-Bab indicated that several members of the Islamic State were killed or captured during the operation.
“We will relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they are. ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, or where they hide”, said General Michael Erik Kurilla, head of United States Central Command (CENTCOM).
