A U.S. military drone strike has successfully eliminated a senior leader of Hurras al-Din, an al-Qaeda-affiliated group in Syria, as confirmed by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in a statement released on August 23.
The targeted individual, Abu-‘Abd al-Rahman al-Makki, held a significant position within the group’s Shura Council, overseeing terrorist activities in Syria. Hurras al-Din, aligned with al-Qaeda, shares the objective of targeting American and Western interests, according to CENTCOM.
Al-Makki was riding a motorcycle when the precise strike took him out, marking the end of his influential role in the jihadist networks of the region, as reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
This operation underscores the continual commitment of the U.S. to eliminate threats posed by terrorist organizations in the Middle East, particularly those associated with al-Qaeda. General Michael Erik Kurilla, the Commander of CENTCOM, reiterated this commitment in a statement.
In recent weeks, U.S. forces have also conducted operations against Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, destroying missile systems and unmanned aerial vehicles controlled by the Houthis that posed a direct threat to U.S. and coalition forces, as well as commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The Pentagon recently reinforced its military presence in the Middle East in response to intelligence indicating potential significant attacks by Iran and its proxies on Israel and U.S. interests. Additional forces, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group and the guided-missile submarine USS Georgia, have been deployed to the region.
The deployment of these additional assets aims to deter aggression and enhance defense capabilities for Israel amid escalating regional tensions. The recent assassinations of prominent figures in Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas groups have raised concerns about a broader conflict involving Iran.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin engaged in discussions with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant regarding the escalating threats from Iran and its proxies, emphasizing the U.S.’s vigilance in monitoring attack planning to protect American personnel and facilities in the region.
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