U.S. Drone Strike in Syria Kills Senior Huras al-Din Leader in Idlib

By Kardo Roj

IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – A senior leader of the Huras al-Din group was killed on Friday evening when his vehicle was struck by a Hellfire missile launched from a drone on the Sarmada-Dana road in Idlib countryside.

The latest targeted killing follows a similar operation late last month, when a U.S.-led coalition drone strike hit a vehicle on the Sarmada-Idlib road near Batabu in northern Idlib, killing another high-ranking Huras al-Din commander. The U.S. Central Command later confirmed the operation, stating that it had successfully eliminated a senior leader of the al-Qaeda-affiliated group.

This marks the third such strike in Idlib since the beginning of 2025, underscoring an ongoing campaign against extremist elements in northwest Syria.

Local sources in Dana, a town in Idlib countryside, confirmed to North Press that a coalition drone targeted a vehicle driven by Talha Abu Imran al-Shami, a known member of Huras al-Din. The strike killed him instantly, according to eyewitness accounts.

Huras al-Din, an al-Qaeda affiliate, has been on the radar of the U.S. and its allies due to its role in global jihadist operations. The group emerged as a breakaway faction from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in 2018 and has since been a primary target of counterterrorism efforts in Syria.

The continued U.S. drone campaign in Idlib signals an intensified effort to dismantle Huras al-Din’s leadership. Analysts suggest that such targeted operations will likely continue as part of broader counterterrorism measures in the region. The extent to which these strikes will impact the group’s operational capabilities remains to be seen.

The Idlib region remains a complex battleground, with multiple armed factions vying for control while civilians continue to bear the brunt of instability and airstrikes. As the international community monitors developments, the potential for further escalations remains high.