US drone strike kills ISIS leader in Syria.

U.S. Drone Strike Kills ISIS Leader in Eastern Syria

The U.S. Central Command announced on Sunday that it successfully conducted a drone strike on July 7, eliminating a prominent ISIS leader in Eastern Syria.

The attack utilized MQ-9 drones, which had earlier encountered Russian aircraft in a tense two-hour standoff, according to the statement.

“U.S. Central Command conducted a strike in Syria that resulted in the death of Usamah al-Muhajir, an ISIS leader in eastern Syria,” the statement read, withholding further details about al-Muhajir.

Over the past year, Washington has intensified its efforts to target suspected ISIS operatives in Syria, apprehending and eliminating several high-ranking leaders who sought refuge in areas controlled by Turkey-backed rebels after the group’s territorial loss in 2019.

The U.S.-led campaign, which successfully eliminated former ISIS head Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, self-proclaimed “caliph of all Muslims,” continues to target surviving leaders believed to be involved in planning attacks abroad.

While U.S. military commanders acknowledge that ISIS remains a significant threat in the region, they also note that its capabilities have been significantly weakened, making it harder for the group to rebuild its network.

At its peak in 2014, the Islamic State controlled one-third of Iraq and Syria. Although it has been pushed back in both countries, its militants continue to carry out insurgent attacks.

Sources:

• Adam Makary
• Omar Abdel Razek
• Suleiman al Khalidi

Edited by:

• Elaine Hardcastle
• Hugh Lawson