US airstrike in Syria kills senior ISIS leader Ali Husayn al-‘Ulaywi: CENTCOM

The US forces have killed a senior ISIS leader in a precision airstrike in northwestern Syria, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Wednesday.

In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said the strike was carried out on June 19 and resulted in the death of Ali Husayn al-‘Ulaywi, a senior figure in the Islamic State group.

CENTCOM said the strike was “part of ongoing US efforts to disrupt and eliminate terrorists seeking to attack Americans abroad or the US homeland” and added that US forces would continue working alongside regional partners to counter the group.

“CENTCOM and our partners remain committed to rooting out remaining remnants of ISIS to ensure its enduring defeat,” Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said.

More from World

“We will continue to defend the US homeland, our service members, and allies and partners across the region.”

The US military has maintained operations against ISIS remnants in Syria and Iraq despite the group's territorial defeat, carrying out periodic strikes against senior leaders and operatives.

Islamic State has launched what it describes as a new phase of operations in Syria targeting the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, claiming responsibility for a series of attacks since February.

Last year, Sharaa's administration joined the US-led coalition combating the militant group.

On Saturday, Islamic State said it was behind an attack near the city of Manbij in northeastern Aleppo province.

The group once controlled vast swathes of Syrian territory during the height of the country's civil war more than a decade ago, ruling over roughly a quarter of the country before being pushed back by the US-led coalition and other anti-ISIS forces.

With inputs from agencies