US airstrike in northwest Syria kills senior Al-Qaeda-linked official

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces carried out a precision airstrike in northwest Syria, eliminating a senior finance and logistics official of Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, the military confirmed.

The strike forms part of CENTCOM’s continued efforts, in coordination with regional partners, to disrupt terrorist operations and prevent attacks on civilians and military personnel from the United States, its allies, and partners both in the region and beyond, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

“We will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorists in order to defend our homeland, and U.S., allied, and partner personnel in the region,“ said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command.

Thus, on January 30, CENTCOM carried out an airstrike that killed Muhammad Salah al-Zabir, a senior operative in Hurras al-Din.

According to the US-based SITE Intelligence Group, Hurras al-Din was established in February 2018. The group did not publicly declare its allegiance to Al-Qaeda until it announced its dissolution last month.

The United States classified Hurras al-Din as a "terrorist" organization in 2019 and has since offered financial rewards for information on several of its members.

By Aghakazim Guliyev