U.S. Strike Kills Senior ISIS Leader and Sons in Syria

United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed the killing of a senior ISIS leader and his two sons during a targeted operation in Syria’s Aleppo province.

The raid, which took place early Friday morning in the town of al-Bab, marked a significant blow to the militant group’s presence in the region.

According to an official statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), CENTCOM identified the individuals killed as:

• Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani and his adult sons,
• Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani.

All three were affiliated with ISIS and deemed a direct threat to U.S. and Coalition forces, as well as to the newly formed Syrian government.

“These ISIS individuals posed a threat to U.S. and Coalition Forces, as well as the new Syrian Government,” the CENTCOM statement said, highlighting the ongoing danger posed by remnants of the extremist group despite its territorial defeat in recent years.

General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of CENTCOM, underscored the U.S. military’s commitment to preventing a resurgence of ISIS, stating that the mission to neutralize the group continues across multiple fronts.

“We will continue to relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they are,” Kurilla said. “ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, and where they hide.

Alongside our partners and allies, U.S. Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies, and our homeland.”

The strike comes at a time of heightened tension in Syria, particularly in regions still reeling from years of conflict and political upheaval.

Though ISIS lost its territorial strongholds years ago, the group has maintained a presence in parts of Syria and Iraq, reverting to guerrilla tactics and small-scale attacks.

In May, the group claimed responsibility for a deadly assault on Syrian government forces, signaling a shift in its targeting priorities.

The attack, carried out via an improvised explosive device, targeted what ISIS described as a “vehicle of the apostate regime” in southern Syria.

Analysts have noted this as the group’s first direct attack against Syrian government forces since the ouster of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.

The newly formed Syrian government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has rejected any legitimacy for ISIS or its affiliates.

The militant group, in turn, views al-Sharaa’s government as illegitimate and has continued to oppose it both rhetorically and through armed actions.

Until recently, ISIS had focused much of its operations against Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria, especially in areas under the control of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

However, the shift toward targeting the central government suggests a possible evolution in the group’s strategy as it seeks to exploit political instability and ongoing security gaps.

The broader security situation in Syria remains fragile.

The central government has faced multiple challenges, including recurring Israeli airstrikes, territorial incursions, and a surge in sectarian unrest.

In the southern city of Suwayda, violent clashes between local groups and government forces have intensified, compounding the difficulties of a nation still grappling with the aftermath of civil war.

The U.S. has maintained a limited military presence in Syria, primarily focused on counterterrorism efforts and support for Kurdish-led forces.

While Washington has scaled back large-scale operations in recent years, targeted strikes like the one in al-Bab reflect its continued focus on eliminating high-value ISIS operatives and disrupting the group’s ability to reconstitute.

With the death of al-Hardani and his sons, U.S. officials hope to disrupt planned operations and reduce the group’s ability to mobilize.

However, experts warn that ISIS’s decentralized structure and regional networks could allow it to endure despite leadership losses.

CENTCOM reiterated its resolve to continue operations against the group, promising ongoing collaboration with regional allies to ensure ISIS does not regain momentum.

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