The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had carried out an airstrike that killed ISIS leader Abu Yousif in eastern Syria.
Another ISIS operative was also killed in Thursday's attack, the agency said. in release Friday morning.
“As we have previously stated, the United States is working with our allies and partners in the region and will not allow ISIS to take advantage of the current situation in Syria and regroup,” said CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Eric Kurilla.
“ISIS has intentions to break the detention of more than 8,000 ISIS operatives currently held in Syrian facilities.”
“We will aggressively target these leaders and operatives, including those seeking to conduct operations outside Syria,” he said.
The agency said it carried out airstrikes targeting eastern Syria's Deir Ezzor province, calling it part of ongoing efforts to “disrupt and degrade the activities” of terrorists.
They said the area was controlled by the Syrian regime and Russian forces until the recent overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Mr. al-Assad defected to Russia earlier this month, ending a nearly 14-year struggle to maintain power in his country.
Since the Syrian president defected to Russia on December 8, attacks by Turkish forces against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have increased.
Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Rider said 2,000 US troops are deployed in Syria in light of regional instability and President Al Assad's withdrawal.
Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
