CAIRO/AMMAN (Reuters) – The U.S. Central Command conducted a successful drone strike on July 7, taking down a prominent ISIS leader in Eastern Syria. The operation utilized the MQ-9 drones, which had recently encountered a Russian aircraft and endured a nearly two-hour-long harassment.
In its official statement, the U.S. Central Command announced, “U.S. Central Command conducted a strike in Syria that resulted in the death of Usamah al-Muhajir, an ISIS leader in eastern Syria.” Unfortunately, no further details were disclosed regarding al-Muhajir’s background or specific role within the organization.
Over the past year, the United States has intensified its efforts to target and neutralize suspected ISIS members in Syria. These operations have proven successful in capturing or eliminating various leaders who had sought refuge in areas controlled by Turkey-backed rebel forces, following the group’s territorial defeat in Syria during 2019.
Ever since the elimination of former ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, the U.S.-led campaign has continued its pursuit of the remaining ISIS leadership. Many of these individuals are believed to be actively plotting and orchestrating attacks outside of the region.
Despite the significant blows dealt to ISIS and its network, U.S. military commanders maintain that the group remains a formidable threat within the region. Although their capabilities have been diminished and their ability to re-establish their network has been significantly impeded, vigilance is still paramount.
The Islamic State, at its peak in 2014, controlled one-third of Iraq and Syria. While it has been successfully pushed back in both countries, its militants continue to wage insurgent attacks, highlighting the ongoing security challenge.
(Reporting by Adam Makary, Omar Abdel Razek, and Suleiman al Khalidi; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle and Hugh Lawson)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
