U.S. says it captured a senior ISIS leader in Syria ground operation
The U.S.-led military coalition fighting the remnants of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq announced the capture of a senior ISIS leader during a ground raid in northwestern Syria early Thursday. "The detained individual was assessed to be an experienced bomb maker and facilitator who became one of the group's top leaders in Syria," the coalition said in a statement. U.S. forces suffered no injuries, a U.S. defense official told ABC News.
"The mission was meticulously planned to minimize the risk of collateral damage, particularly any potential harm to civilians," the U.S.-led Operation Inherent Resolve said. "There were no civilians harmed during the operation nor any damage to coalition aircraft or assets."
"U.S. military ground raids into northwestern Syria are risky because they are carried out far west from U.S. bases in eastern Syria in areas that are controlled either by extremists or Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government," ABC News reports. Previous raids in the area have targeted ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who killed himself during an October 2019 raid, and his successor, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, who blew himself up during a U.S. raid in February.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Coalition forces will continue to hunt the remnants of Daesh [ISIS] wherever they hide to ensure their enduring defeat," Operation Inherent Resolve said. ISIS has maintained a low-level insurgency in Iraq and Syria, with occasional large operations, most recently a January mass jailbreak of ISIS fighters in Hasakah, northeast Syria. U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, backed by U.S. airstrikes, retook the prison after a 10-day battle, but several hundred ISIS militants likely escaped and hundreds more were believed killed in the battle.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The Pentagon faces an uncertain future with Trump
Talking Point The president-elect has nominated conservative commentator Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
This is what you should know about State Department travel advisories and warnings
In Depth Stay safe on your international adventures
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
'All Tyson-Paul promised was spectacle and, in the end, that's all we got'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Russia and Iran 'up the ante' after meeting in Turkmenistan
The Explainer Two nations talk up their closer ties but some in Tehran believe Putin 'still owes' them
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Will Iran risk all-out war with Israel?
Today's Big Question Tehran has not wanted to be directly involved in the Middle East conflict so far. But that could be about to change
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red Sea
Speed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacks
speed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages released
Speed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'
Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
By The Week UK Published
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs say
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published