US Ground Raid in Syria Kills Senior ISIS Leader and Sons

The United States military has conducted a rare ground operation in Syria, resulting in the death of a senior ISIS leader and his two sons, according to an announcement by Central Command (CENTCOM) on Friday.

The individuals targeted were Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani and his sons Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani. They were characterized as active threats to both US and coalition forces, as well as to Syria's recently established government.

CENTCOM confirmed that there were no civilian casualties during the raid. Six civilians, comprising three women and three children, who were present at the scene, were unharmed.

The US has regularly executed operations against ISIS in the area, although ground raids remain less frequent than airstrikes. General Erik Kurilla, the commander of CENTCOM, emphasized that the US remains resolute in its mission to pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they may be located.

In recent months, the US military has been involved in several missions in Iraq and Syria. In May, coordinated efforts led to five operations in Iraq and one in Syria, resulting in the deaths of two ISIS members and the capture of two others. In March, a US airstrike in Iraq claimed the life of ISIS operations chief Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai.

In April, the Pentagon revealed plans to gradually reduce troop numbers in Syria, with nearly half of the forces set to be withdrawn. Despite this reduction, US officials have stressed the ongoing commitment to counterterrorism operations in the region.

This operation follows significant policy changes from the Trump administration, including the removal of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from the US list of foreign terrorist organizations and the official lifting of sanctions on Syria.

Officials assert that the raid highlights the persistent threat posed by ISIS and reaffirms the US dedication to dismantling its leadership network.