During an operation in northeast Syria on Wednesday, U.S. forces detained a man that defense officials claim is a senior leader of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) and an experienced bomb maker.
Military forces detained Hani Ahmed al-Kurdi, also reportedly known as the “Wali of Raqqa,” but did not disclose more details about the raid that led to al-Kurdi’s arrest.
Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS, said, “The mission was meticulously planned to minimize the risk of collateral damage, particularly any potential harm to civilians.”
“There were no civilians harmed during the operation nor any damage to coalition aircraft or assets,” Operation Inherent Resolve said.
Central Command officials said that although the Islamic State is not as powerful as it used to be, the organization is still a threat in the region.
The head of U.S. Central Command Army, Gen. Erik Kurilla, said, “This operation in northeast Syria demonstrates our commitment to the security of the region and to the enduring defeat of ISIS.”
Gen. Kurilla was in Tajikistan to meet Central Asian leaders.
The operation was the most significant of its kind since February, when the U.S. conducted a raid against Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, thought to be the leader of the Islamic State in Syria at the time.
As reported by The Dallas Express, al-Qurayshi reportedly detonated a bomb when U.S. forces found him, killing himself and his family members.
The U.S. military and its allies in Syria continue to fight Islamic State networks, even though the U.S. declared victory against ISIS in 2019. Former members of the group still operate in Iraq, Syria, and other countries in the Middle East.
U.S. officials fear that former ISIS members will rebuild their terror state in the Syrian prisons that now hold them. A refugee camp called al-Hol, created for women and children after the collapse of ISIS in 2019, is believed to be a mini-caliphate.
Officials report activities in the camp are a reminder that extremism originating from ISIS remains a concern in the region.