A highly successful joint operation conducted by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the U.S. coalition forces has resulted in the elimination of a senior Islamic State (ISIS) official in eastern Syria, according to Kurdish fighters.
The official, identified as Ibrahim Al-Ali, also known as Abu Mujahid, was targeted and killed during a raid on Tuesday. The SDF confirmed the operation and the death of Abu Mujahid on Thursday.
The operation, which took place in the heart of Raqqa, resulted in the seizure of several pieces of military equipment.
According to a Kurdish source, Abu Mujahid was responsible for the recruitment of ISIS fighters in eastern Syria and from the neighboring country of Iraq.
“The elimination of this individual is of great significance as he held a key leadership role in the eastern region, encompassing al-Hassakeh, Raqqa, and Deir al-Zour,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, Head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
“These areas have experienced an alarming increase in ISIS operations over the past few months.”
- Since their deployment in 2015, U.S. forces have been providing support to the Syrian Kurds and their allies in the fight against ISIS.
The killing of Abu Mujahid comes just two weeks after the confirmed death of ISIS leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, with Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Quraishi named as his successor.
dpa/NAN
