U.S. Military Operation in Syria Kills High-Ranking ISIS Leader and Sons

On Friday, a U.S.-led military operation in northwestern Syria resulted in the death of a high-ranking leader within the Islamic State militant group. The U.S. Central Command confirmed the death of Dhiya Zawba Muslih al-Hardan, along with his two adult sons, who were also associated with the group. The raid took place in the town of al-Bab, located in Syria's Aleppo province.

According to the U.S. military, the men posed a threat to both U.S. and coalition forces, as well as the new Syrian government. The operation was conducted early in the day. The statement also indicated that three women and three children present at the site were unharmed during the raid.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in the United Kingdom, reported that the raid involved an airdrop of forces. This was the first such operation conducted by the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State this year. The Observatory also noted the participation of ground forces from both the Syrian government's General Security forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

The Observatory further described the operation as being preceded by a strict security perimeter around the targeted location. There was a significant deployment of forces on the ground, along with the presence of coalition helicopters in the airspace. Neither the Syrian government in Damascus nor the SDF issued any statements regarding the operation.

The United States has been strengthening its relationship with the new Syrian government in Damascus since the fall of the former President. Washington has been advocating for a merger between the new Syrian army and the Kurdish-led SDF, which controls a significant portion of the country's northeast. However, progress on the details of this merger has been slow. The recent outbreak of sectarian violence in the southern province of Sweida could further complicate the situation.