US military announces targeting ISIS leader in Syria with precision strike in Deir Ezzor

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Friday that it had killed the leader of the ISIS organization in Syria, known as "Abu Yusuf," in a precision strike.

"On December 19, US Central Command forces conducted a precision airstrike targeting ISIS leader Abu Yusuf, known as Mahmoud, in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria, killing two ISIS members, including Abu Yusuf," CENTCOM said in a post on its official account on the X platform, formerly Twitter.

"This airstrike is part of Central Command's ongoing commitment, along with partners in the region, to disrupt and degrade terrorists' efforts to plan, organize, and execute attacks against U.S. civilians and military personnel, our allies, and our partners throughout the region and beyond," the U.S. Central Command added.

"This strike was conducted in an area previously controlled by the former Syrian regime and Russian forces," CENTCOM said in its post.

“As we have stated before, the United States, working with allies and partners in the region, will not allow ISIS to exploit the current situation in Syria and reconstitute itself,” said General Michael Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command. “ISIS intends to free more than 8,000 ISIS operatives currently held in facilities in Syria.”

“We will aggressively target these leaders and operatives, including those attempting to conduct operations outside of Syria,” General Michael Kurilla added.

Source: Agencies