Senior ISIS leader suspected killed in US raid

U.S. forces announced they killed a senior Islamic State leader on Monday in an early morning helicopter raid in northern Syria, according to U.S. Central Command.    

The raid sought the senior ISIS Syria leader, an unnamed operational planner responsible for orchestrating attacks in the Middle East and Europe, in a raid that “resulted in the probable death of the targeted individual,” CENTOM said in a statement. 

CENTCOM later identified the target as Abd-al-Hadi Mahmud al-Haji Ali, and confirmed he was killed in the raid.

The command said the operation was launched after intelligence revealed an ISIS plot to kidnap officials abroad as leverage for ISIS initiatives.

“We know ISIS retains the desire to strike beyond the Middle East,” said CENTCOM spokesman Col. Joe Buccino in the later statement. “This raid deals a significant blow to ISIS operations in the region but does not eliminate ISIS’ capability to conduct operations.”

“Two other armed individuals were killed on the target,” though no civilians were assessed as killed or injured, the statement claimed.  

“Though degraded, ISIS remains able to conduct operations within the region with a desire to strike beyond the Middle East,” CENTCOM Commander Gen. Erik Kurilla, said in the release. “We will continue the relentless campaign against ISIS.” 

U.S. troops captured an ISIS official in a helicopter raid in eastern Syria earlier this month. The April 8 operation seized ISIS attack facilitator Hudayfah al Yemeni and two of his associates. 

And American forces in February held a similar operation that led to the capture of Batar, an ISIS Syria Province official.  

CENTCOM officials say such missions disrupt ISIS’s ability to plot and carry out operations.