US-Led Forces Kill Senior ISIS Leader, Sons in Syria's Aleppo

U.S. Central Command conducted a successful raid in al-Bab, Aleppo province, killing senior ISIS leader Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani and his two adult sons, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani, who were affiliated with ISIS and posed a threat to U.S., coalition forces, and the new Syrian government. The operation, which involved an airdrop and coordination with Syrian government and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, also found three women and three children at the site who were unharmed. CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla emphasized the U.S. commitment to relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists to prevent their regrouping and to protect regional stability and homeland security. This raid occurred amid a shifting U.S. policy toward Syria under President Donald Trump, who has engaged with the new Syrian government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former emissary of ISIS and founder of al-Qaeda in Syria's rebranded Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Despite the U.S. efforts against ISIS, complex alliances and the presence of former jihadists in the Syrian government highlight ongoing challenges in the region. The operation underscores the continued U.S. military focus on targeting ISIS leaders despite the evolving political landscape in Syria.