Beirut: Two U.S. airstrikes in Syria this past week led to the death of 37 militants connected to the Islamic State (ISIS) and the al-Qaeda-affiliated Hurras al-Deen group, according to a statement by U.S. Central Command on Sunday. Among the dead were two high-ranking militants.
The first airstrike occurred in northwestern Syria on Tuesday, targeting a senior leader of Hurras al-Deen, an al-Qaeda-linked group, along with eight others. This leader was reportedly responsible for overseeing key military operations. The second airstrike, described as “large-scale,” was carried out on September 16 at an ISIS training camp located in central Syria. This attack resulted in the death of 28 militants, including four senior Syrian leaders within ISIS.
The strikes were part of U.S. efforts to disrupt the operational capabilities of extremist groups in Syria. The U.S. military stated that the airstrikes were intended to hinder future ISIS operations, particularly those that could threaten U.S. interests, allies, and partners in the region.
The U.S. maintains a military presence of around 900 troops in Syria, alongside contractors, primarily to prevent the resurgence of ISIS. These forces assist and advise the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria, where they face threats from both ISIS and Iran-backed militant groups.
