CAIRO/AMMAN: The US Central Command announced on Sunday that it conducted a drone strike in Eastern Syria on July 7, resulting in the death of an ISIS leader in Eastern Syria. The strike targeted Usamah al-Muhajir, an ISIS leader operating in the region, although no further details were provided about him.
The operation utilized MQ-9 drones, which had earlier encountered Russian aircraft, leading to a nearly two-hour-long confrontation, according to a statement from the US Central Command. The drone strike was carried out following the encounter with the Russian planes.
In recent months, the United States has escalated its efforts to target suspected ISIS operatives in Syria, focusing on eliminating the group’s leaders who sought refuge in areas controlled by Turkey-backed rebels after the loss of its last territory in 2019.
US Operations Against ISIS in Syria
The US-led campaign against ISIS gained significant attention when it successfully killed former ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, who had declared himself the “caliph of all Muslims.” Since then, the coalition has continued to target surviving leaders of the group, many of whom are believed to have been involved in planning attacks abroad.
While ISIS has suffered territorial losses and significant degradation of its capabilities, US military commanders maintain that the group remains a significant threat within the region. Although its ability to rebuild its network has been weakened, ISIS militants continue to carry out insurgent attacks.
At its peak in 2014, the Islamic State controlled large parts of Iraq and Syria. While it has since been pushed back in both countries, the group still poses a persistent challenge, necessitating ongoing efforts to counter its activities and ensure regional security.
