U.S. Strike Kills Senior ISIS Leader In Syria

A senior ISIS leader was killed in a U.S. precision airstrike in northwest Syria, CETCOM announced Wednesday.

Ali Husayn al-‘Ulaywi was killed in a June 19 strike as part of continued U.S. counterterrorism operations against ISIS remnants in the region, according to U.S. Central Command.

“The precision strike killed Ali Husayn al-‘Ulaywi and is part of ongoing U.S. efforts to disrupt and eliminate terrorists seeking to attack Americans abroad or the U.S. homeland,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

The strike comes as ISIS remains weakened, but still poses a security challenge in parts of Syria and Iraq. Security officials have warned that ISIS continues to operate through sleeper cells and insurgent networks capable of carrying out attacks and exploiting security gaps. In Syria, U.S. forces and local partners have continued targeting ISIS remnants through intelligence-driven operations, raids, and airstrikes.

ISIS lost the last territory of its self-declared caliphate in 2019, but the group has remained a concern for U.S. and regional forces as they work to prevent its resurgence in Syria and Iraq. The continued operations underscore that ISIS no longer holds the same territorial power it once did, but remains a target of U.S.-backed counterterrorism efforts.

In February, CENTCOM said U.S. forces completed a 23-day mission transferring more than 5,700 adult male ISIS fighters from detention facilities in Syria to Iraqi custody. The command said the mission was intended to help keep ISIS detainees secure and prevent a resurgence in Syria. Reuters reported at the time that U.S. officials viewed the transfer as strategically important as instability continued in northeast Syria.

CENTCOM said it continues to work with regional partners in counterterrorism operations across Syria and Iraq.

“CENTCOM and our partners remain committed to rooting out remaining remnants of ISIS to ensure its enduring defeat,” CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said. “We will continue to defend the U.S. homeland, our service members, and allies and partners across the region.”