US Airstrike Kills Senior Al-Qaeda-Linked Leader in Syria
The strike targeted Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, the senior military leader of HaD, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, who played a key role in planning attacks against civilians and military personnel from the United States, its allies, and regional partners.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Saturday that its forces conducted a precision airstrike in northwest Syria, killing Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, the senior military leader of Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate. The operation, carried out on February 23, is part of ongoing U.S. efforts to combat terrorist threats in the region.
The strike targeted Talay, who was reportedly involved in orchestrating attacks against civilians and military personnel from the United States, its allies, and regional partners. CENTCOM emphasized that this action aligns with its broader mission to disrupt and degrade terrorist networks operating in Syria and beyond.
“As we have said in the past, we will continue to relentlessly pursue these terrorists to defend our homeland and U.S., allied, and partner personnel in the region,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command.
Hurras al-Din, designated as a terrorist organization, has been linked to Al-Qaeda and is known for planning and executing attacks against Western and regional targets. The group has remained active in Syria despite ongoing counterterrorism operations.
The U.S. has maintained a military presence in Syria as part of its efforts to combat terrorist organizations, including ISIS and Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups. The elimination of Talay marks another step in CENTCOM’s strategy to neutralize high-ranking terrorist leaders and disrupt their operations. U.S. officials have reiterated their commitment to working with regional allies to prevent extremist groups from gaining further ground.
The operation underscores Washington’s ongoing counterterrorism policy in Syria, as U.S. military forces continue to monitor and target threats that pose risks to global security.
