US military eliminates leader of Al-Qaeda-aligned group in Syria
Photo: US killed Hurras al-Din senior leader in Syria (Getty Images)
In Syria, Abu-’Abd al-Rahman al-Makki, a senior leader of the Islamist terrorist group Hurras al-Din (Arabic for "Guardians of the Religion"), has been eliminated. The operation was conducted by US military forces, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).
According to the report, one of the leaders of this Salafi jihadist organization was killed as a result of a targeted kinetic strike in Syria. The operation took place on August 24.
CENTCOM stated that al-Rahman al-Makki was a Hurras al-Din Shura Council member and senior leader responsible for overseeing terrorist operations from Syria.
Commenting on the operation to eliminate this top jihadist, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander, US Central Command said "CENTCOM remains committed to the enduring defeat of terrorists in the CENTCOM area of responsibility who threaten the United States, its allies and partners, and regional stability."
About Hurras al-Din
The US side notes that this group is associated with the international Sunni jihadist terrorist organization Al-Qaeda. Specifically, Hurras al-Din is referred to as Al-Qaeda in Syria.
CENTCOM added that Hurras al-Din based in Syria "shares Al Qaeda’s global aspirations to conduct attacks against US and Western interests."
The group Hurras al-Din was founded in 2018 and participated in battles during the Syrian Civil War. Its leader, Abu Humam al-Shami, was a former top military commander of the now-defunct al-Nusra Front and fought alongside Al-Qaeda during the 1990s Afghan Civil War and the insurgency in Iraq.
In September 2019, the US State Department designated Hurras al-Din as a foreign terrorist organization.
In July, the US Central Command stated that the terrorist organization Islamic State (ISIS) is attempting to double its number of attacks and assaults and to recover from a period of relative calm in the Middle East.
