One of the high-ranking leaders of ISIS killed in Syria

According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), one of the leaders of the ISIS (“Islamic State”) group was killed in an airstrike.

According to the agency, on June 19, U.S. Central Command forces conducted an airstrike in northwestern Syria, resulting in the elimination of a high-ranking leader of the ISIS group. It is reported that the operation targeted Ali Hussein al-Ulaywi.

CENTCOM noted that this operation is part of ongoing U.S. efforts to identify and eliminate individuals planning attacks against American citizens abroad or on U.S. soil.

CENTCOM did not provide details on what the killed individual was doing within the ISIS group.

The commander of CENTCOM, Admiral Brad Cooper, stated that they and their partners remain committed to the task of completely eradicating the remaining ISIS cells to deliver a “final defeat” to the group.

International media report that the strike was carried out near the village of Deir Hassan, located close to the border with Turkey.

Earlier, local residents reported that one person was killed as a result of an airstrike on a motorcycle in the region; however, the identity of the deceased was only officially confirmed by U.S. authorities later.

Informed sources note that despite losing major territories in Syria in 2019, dormant ISIS cells remain active in the country. Several reports indicate that in recent months, the group has carried out isolated attacks in Syria.