The United States has announced the elimination of ISIS leader Abu Yusif in Syria.
U.S. Central Command (Centcom) forces reported conducting an airstrike targeting Yusif, also known as Mahmud, in the eastern province of Deir ez-Zor.
They stated that the area had previously been controlled by the Syrian regime and Russian forces before the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad’s stronghold.
Another ISIS operative was also killed in the strike, according to U.S. officials.
Centcom Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla said, “As previously stated, the United States – working with allies and partners in the region – will not allow ISIS to take advantage of the current situation in Syria and rebuild itself.”
“ISIS aims to free over 8,000 of its operatives currently held in detention facilities in Syria.”
“We will aggressively target these leaders and operatives, including those attempting to carry out operations outside Syria.”
ISIS militants seized parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014, taking advantage of the Syrian civil war to claim territory before declaring a caliphate at the end of 2015.
