U.S. Airstrike Targets Senior ISIS Leader in Syria

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that U.S. military forces have conducted an airstrike in Syria, resulting in the death of a prominent ISIS leader.

In a statement released on Wednesday, CENTCOM confirmed the airstrike occurred last Friday in the northwest region of Syria, eliminating Ali Husayn al-‘Ulaywi.

“This precise strike eliminated Ali Husayn al-‘Ulaywi and represents our ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorists who aim to threaten Americans both abroad and at home,” CENTCOM stated.

As reported by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), ISIS, the notorious terrorist group, has an estimated 1,500 to 3,000 members in Iraq and Syria, with a global presence of around 8,800 to 13,100 individuals.

Back in 2019, an international coalition reclaimed the last significant stronghold of ISIS in Syria. That same year, U.S. forces also killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Interestingly, while 2026 has seen a resurgence in ISIS activities within Syria, reports from The Soufan Center indicate that overall operations are at historically low levels.

Earlier this year, CENTCOM targeted several locations in Syria as a response to an ISIS ambush that resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter in December.

Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in 2024, the U.S. has seen improvements in diplomatic relations with Syria under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Admiral Brad Cooper, a CENTCOM commander, underlined the commitment to combat the significantly weakened terrorist organization to safeguard the U.S. and its allies.

“CENTCOM and our partners remain dedicated to eliminating the final pockets of ISIS to ensure its lasting defeat,” Cooper remarked. “We are committed to protecting the U.S. homeland, our military personnel, and our partners in the region.”