U.S. Confirms Killing of Al-Qaeda-Linked Leader in Syria Airstrike
By Kardo Roj
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Saturday that its forces carried out an airstrike in northwest Syria, killing Muhammad Yusuf Zia Talai, a senior military leader of Hurras al-Din (HaD), an al-Qaeda-affiliated extremist group.
The airstrike, conducted on February 23, targeted Talai in Idlib province, a region controlled by opposition and jihadist factions. CENTCOM stated that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to neutralize extremist threats in Syria and prevent attacks on U.S. and allied forces.
Hurras al-Din, Arabic for “Guardians of Religion,” is an al-Qaeda-linked militant group that has been active in northwest Syria since 2018. The faction, designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., has carried out attacks in Syria and is believed to have connections to global jihadist networks.
According to a CENTCOM press release, Talai played a key role in HaD’s military operations and was involved in planning external attacks. The statement emphasized that the airstrike was aimed at “disrupting and degrading terrorist efforts to organize and execute attacks against civilians and military personnel.”
General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of CENTCOM, reiterated the U.S. commitment to counterterrorism efforts in the region. “As we have said in the past, we will continue to relentlessly pursue these terrorists in order to defend our homeland, and U.S., allied, and partner personnel in the region,” Kurilla said.
The latest strike is part of a series of U.S. operations against high-profile jihadist leaders in Syria. Washington has consistently targeted senior figures in ISIS and al-Qaeda-affiliated groups operating in the country.
In January 2024, another airstrike in Idlib killed a senior HaD leader responsible for coordinating attacks outside Syria. The U.S. military has also been involved in joint counterterrorism operations with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria, focusing on remnants of ISIS.
Despite these efforts, analysts warn that al-Qaeda-linked factions continue to exploit the ongoing instability in Syria, using the Idlib region as a haven for regrouping and recruitment.