AIR FORCE HELICOPTER CREW RESCUES FEMALE HIKER – The 943rd Rescue Group had to use night vision goggles to rescue a severely injured hiker. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald/Released)
A joint force from the United States-led coalition, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the counter-terrorism service of the Iraqi autonomous region of Kurdistan had killed a senior commander of ISIS during a special operation in the northeastern Syrian governorate of Raqqa, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on August 17.
The commander was identified by the London-based monitoring group as Ibrahim al-Ali. According to the group, al-Ali, who was also known as Abi Mujahid, was responsible for ISIS cells in Syria’s northeastern region.
Al-Ali was killed during clashes with the U.S.-Kurdish force that stormed his hideout in Raqqa city. Weapons and military equipment were reportedly seized during the operation.
The operation came amid a surge in attacks by ISIS in areas held by the U.S.-led coalition and the SDF in northeastern Syria.
A recent report by the SOHR said that the terrorist group’s cells carried out 11 attacks in the region in the first two weeks of August. The attacks claimed the lives of two civilians and five personnel of the SDF. At least 12 other people were wounded.
The Kurdistan counter-terrorism service cooperates closely with the U.S.-led coalition and is known to be involved in the training of the SDF elite units. The special operation in Raqqa marked the first time it was reported that the service took part on Syrian territory.
The U.S.-led coalition maintains a large presence in Syria’s northeastern region as well as a garrison in the southeastern area of al-Tanf under the pretext of fighting ISIS. Despite this, the terrorist group’s influence in these parts of the country appears to be on the rise.
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