US forces kill senior ISIS leaders in northeast Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces carried out on Thursday two airstrikes against senior leaders of the Islamic State Organization (ISIS) in north and northeastern Syria.
The US Central Command said their forces conducted a helicopter raid near Qamishli city in northeast Syria, targeting Rakkan Wahid al-Shammri, “an ISIS official known to facilitate the smuggling of weapons and fighters to support ISIS operations.”
The strike took place in the village of Milouk Saray, south of Qamishli city, an exclusive source told North Press.
The village is under the control of Syrian government forces and few kilometers from Qamishli International Airport which is under the control of Russian forces.
Several hours later, ISIS deputy leader in Syria known as Abu-Hashum al-Umawi and another senior ISIS official associated with him were killed in a US airstrike in northern Syria.
No casualties among the US forces were reported.
Late in August, the Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria (Asayish) with support of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS launched the Humanity and Security Operation in Hawl Camp to pursue the ISIS sleeper cells.
During the operation, the Asayish arrested 226 individuals, including 36 “radical” women, suspected of belonging to ISIS sleeper cells.
In January, about 300 ISIS militants launched a vicious attack against al-Sina’a prison in the city of Hasakah in an attempt to set their inmates free.
“USCENTCOM is committed to our allies and partners in the enduring defeat of ISIS,” said Col. Joe Buccino, USCENTCOM spokesman.
“This strike will degrade ISIS’ ability to destabilize the region and strike at our forces and partners,” said General Michael Kurilla, CENTCOM Commander.
“Our forces remain in the region to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS,” he added.