US kills senior ISIS leader, two militant sons in Syria raid
PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — A U.S. Army Green Beret is seen during a training exercise at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms (MCAGCC), Calif., May 2, 2019. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. William Chockey via U.S. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service - DVIDS)
By Paul Garraty
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it conducted a raid early Friday morning in al-Bab, Aleppo Governorate, Syria. The operation, according to CENTCOM, resulted in the death of a senior Islamic State group leader and his two adult sons, who were also affiliated with the terrorist group.
In a press release, CENTCOM identified the individuals killed as Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, described as a senior ISIS leader, along with his sons, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani. CENTCOM stated these individuals "posed a threat to US and Coalition Forces, as well as the new Syrian Government."
The command also reported that three women and three children present at the location were unharmed during the operation.
General Michael Erik Kurilla, U.S. Central Command Commander, was quoted in the press release as saying, "We will continue to relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they operate. ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, and where they hide. Alongside our partners and allies, U.S. Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies, and our homeland.”
The raid, as described by CENTCOM, highlights the ongoing operations aimed at disrupting and eliminating ISIS leadership within the region.
