US eliminates ISIS leader in Syria: What is known
Photo: CENTCOM Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla (Getty Images)
The United States has announced the elimination of the leader of the Islamic State, Abu Yusif, during an airstrike in Syria. The operation was carried out on December 19, according to the US Central Command on Twitter (X).
The US Department of Defense stated that the leader of ISIS was eliminated as a result of a "precision airstrike" in Syria's Dayr az Zawr province. Another terrorist was also killed in the strike.
"This strike was conducted in an area formerly controlled by the Syrian regime and Russians," the statement read.
According to CENTCOM Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla, the airstrike was part of US efforts to prevent the strengthening of ISIS amid the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria.
"As stated before, the United States — working with allies and partners in the region — will not allow ISIS to take advantage of the current situation in Syria and reconstitute," he said.
Fall of Assad's regime in Syria
Earlier, we reported that large-scale clashes broke out in Syria between the Islamist rebel group Ha'yat Tahrir al-Sham, units of the Syrian National Army, and the army of dictator Bashar al-Assad. This led to the collapse of Assad's regime.
Additionally, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin previously stated that the Islamic State international terrorist organization may take advantage of the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria.
For more on why Assad's regime collapsed so quickly and what will happen next with Syria, read the material by RBC-Ukraine.
