An American airstrike in northwest Syria has killed a senior commander of the Islamic State group. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the strike was carried out on Friday and formed part of ongoing operations aimed at stopping militants who are planning attacks on Americans abroad or on the U.S. homeland.
Local Syrian activists were the first to report that an airstrike had hit a motorcycle near the village of Deir Hassan. The area sits close to the Turkish border. Early on, only one detail was clear, that one person had been killed, and the identity of the target remained unknown. CENTCOM later confirmed that the man killed was Ali Husayn al-Ulaywi.
Who Was Targeted
CENTCOM described Ali Husayn al-Ulaywi as a senior member of the Islamic State group. The command tied the strike to its wider counterterrorism campaign, with the statement stressing the disruption and elimination of militants. It said the aim was to prevent attacks against Americans overseas and inside the United States.
Sleeper Cells Still Active in Syria
Even after the group's defeat in Syria in 2019, Islamic State sleeper cells have remained active. These cells have claimed attacks on Syria's new authorities, a pattern that intensified after the December 2024 collapse of five decades of Assad family rule. The renewed claims have deepened concerns about continued militant activity across the region.
What the Military Said
CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said, "CENTCOM and our partners remain committed to rooting out remaining remnants of ISIS to ensure its enduring defeat." Adm. Brad Cooper added, "We will continue to defend the U.S. homeland, our service members, and allies and partners across the region."
In February, an Islamic State spokesman issued a fresh call for violence. In an audio message, Abu Huzaifa al-Ansari urged followers around the world to attack Jewish and Western targets. The call came amid sustained pressure on the group's networks across the region.
Earlier Operations
The U.S. military last struck Islamic State targets in Syria in February. Those strikes were cast as retaliation for a December ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter. At the time, Central Command said at least 50 Islamic State members had been killed or captured.
The latest strike near Deir Hassan is another link in the chain of U.S. action against Islamic State networks in Syria. CENTCOM connected the operation to protecting Americans and partners in the region. Initial activist accounts and later U.S. confirmation pieced together the target and the location. The update arrived as worries persist over active sleeper cells.
