The US military has killed a senior Islamic State (IS) leader in an airstrike in northwestern Syria, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Wednesday.
According to CENTCOM, the strike was carried out on Friday as part of ongoing operations aimed at disrupting and eliminating militants planning attacks against Americans and US interests.
The military identified the slain militant as Ali Husayn al-Ulaywi, describing him as a senior Islamic State leader.
“The strike was part of ongoing US efforts to disrupt and eliminate terrorists seeking to attack Americans abroad or the US homeland,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
The operation comes amid a renewed Islamic State campaign in Syria. Since February, the group has launched a series of attacks against the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Last year, Sharaa’s government joined the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State.