U.S. Airstrike Kills Senior ISIS Leader in Northwest Syria

U.S. forces killed a senior Islamic State leader in a precision airstrike in northwest Syria last week, U.S. Central Command announced on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The strike, conducted on June 19, eliminated Ali Husayn al-Ulaywi, whom the military identified as a senior figure within the terrorist organization.

CENTCOM stated the operation was part of ongoing U.S. efforts to disrupt and eliminate terrorists who seek to attack Americans abroad or the U.S. homeland. The command said it continues to work alongside regional partners in this mission.

Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said the command and its partners remain committed to rooting out the remaining remnants of ISIS to ensure its enduring defeat. He added that U.S. forces will continue to defend the homeland, service members, and allies and partners across the region.

The strike underscores the persistent, though diminished, threat posed by ISIS years after the loss of its territorial caliphate. The group, which controlled large sections of Syria and Iraq before an international coalition seized its final stronghold in 2019, has since shifted into smaller insurgent networks and sleeper cells. In Syria, U.S. forces...