Top ISIS leader killed in US strike in Syria’s Northwest – CENTCOM
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the killing of one of the top five Islamic State Organization (ISIS) leaders and the leader of ISIS in Syria, in a strike in northwest of Aleppo.
In a press release the CENTCOM stated, “the US Central Command Forces conducted a UAS strike outside Jindayris, northwest Syria targeting two senior ISIS officials, July 12, 2022.”
Maher al-Agal, the ISIS leader, was killed and “a senior ISIS official closely associated with Maher was seriously injured during the strike,” the press release read.
On Tuesday morning, a local source told North Press Agency that an unidentified drone targeted two individuals, who were riding a motorcycle, in the countryside of Jindires district in the Turkish-occupied city of Afrin north of Aleppo.
The two targeted individuals are militants of al-Sharqia Army, one of the armed factions affiliated with the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), according to the source.
The CENTCOM’s statement noted that al-Agal was also responsible for “pursuing the development of ISIS networks outside of Iraq and Syria.”
“This strike reaffirms CENTCOM’s steadfast commitment to the region and the enduring defeat of ISIS,” said Col. Joe Buccino, a CENTCOM spokesperson.
“ISIS continues to represent a threat to the U.S. and partners in the region,” Buccino added.
Farhad Shami, director of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Media Center, said that Hundreds of ISIS militants still move in the Turkish occupied Syrian areas.
No civilian casualties were reported in the strike, according to the initial information.
Opposition websites publicized that the wounded other ISIS militant also succumbed to his injuries; however, North Press did not managed to verify the news.
The strike on al-Agal comes months after the previous leader of the ISIS, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, killed himself during a raid of his hideout by American special forces in Idlib Governorate. The US said Al-Qurayshi blew himself up along with members of his family.