The United States military conducted two airstrikes in Syria, killing 37 militants affiliated with the extremist groups ISIS and al-Qaeda, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Sunday. The two operations, carried out in different parts of the war-torn country, targeted key figures from both groups, including senior militant leaders, in what U.S. officials described as a significant blow to extremist operations in the region.
These airstrikes mark a continuation of the U.S. military’s efforts to prevent the resurgence of ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates, whose influence continues to linger in Syria, even after the collapse of their territorial ambitions. This article will break down the details of the strikes, the significance of the targets, and the broader implications for both U.S. operations in the region and the ongoing Syrian conflict.
The first of the two airstrikes took place on Tuesday in northwestern Syria, targeting a group of militants affiliated with Hurras al-Deen, an al-Qaeda-linked organization. Among the nine killed was a senior commander responsible for overseeing military operations within the group. Hurras al-Deen, formed in 2018 by former al-Qaeda loyalists, has since established itself as a prominent player in Syria’s fractured militant scene. Unlike ISIS, whose primary goal was to establish a self-proclaimed caliphate, Hurras al-Deen is driven by a broader ideology that supports global jihad under the al-Qaeda banner.
This particular airstrike underscores the U.S. military’s continued commitment to counterterrorism operations in Syria, especially against groups like Hurras al-Deen, which have often been overshadowed by ISIS in terms of media attention. However, CENTCOM’s operation reveals the group’s ongoing threat, as its leaders still wield considerable influence over regional militant activity.
CENTCOM’s statement highlighted the critical role of the militant leader targeted, emphasizing his involvement in directing military operations, planning attacks, and supporting terrorist activities. His death, according to CENTCOM officials, is expected to disrupt the group’s capabilities in the region and diminish its influence over the fragmented factions operating in Syria.
Just days before the attack on Hurras al-Deen militants, the U.S. military conducted a “large-scale airstrike” on September 16, aimed at an ISIS training camp in central Syria. This strike took place in a remote, undisclosed location, killing 28 militants, including at least four senior leaders. According to CENTCOM, this operation was designed to severely weaken ISIS’s ability to plan and carry out operations both within Syria and beyond its borders.
ISIS, once notorious for its rapid territorial expansion across Iraq and Syria in 2014, has since lost most of its strongholds due to concerted international military efforts. However, despite being driven underground, the group has maintained a significant presence in the region. Militants continue to organize attacks, recruit new members, and foster cells of radicalized followers through clandestine networks.
This training camp, according to CENTCOM’s report, was a key hub for ISIS operations, where militants received combat training, strategic planning skills, and indoctrination. By eliminating these militants, including influential Syrian leaders within the group, U.S. forces have dealt a critical blow to ISIS’s command structure, undermining its capacity to coordinate attacks against U.S. interests and allies in the region.
The strikes serve as a reminder of the ongoing presence of U.S. forces in Syria, where roughly 900 American troops are stationed, alongside an undisclosed number of military contractors. Despite the absence of large-scale ground operations, these forces play a crucial role in advising and assisting local allies, particularly the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led coalition that has been instrumental in combating ISIS since its rise.
The U.S. military presence in Syria operates under a mission aimed at preventing the resurgence of ISIS and maintaining stability in regions liberated from the group’s control. However, the geopolitical landscape in Syria remains complex, with U.S. forces operating in close proximity to Iranian-backed militias, Syrian government forces, and Russian military assets. This delicate balance has led to intermittent skirmishes and tense standoffs, particularly near the Syrian-Iraqi border.
The U.S. has been cautious in its military engagement in Syria, seeking to avoid entanglement in the wider civil war while focusing on counterterrorism objectives. However, the presence of groups like Hurras al-Deen and ISIS means that the threat of terrorism in the region remains potent, requiring ongoing vigilance and occasional direct action.
The timing and precision of the U.S. airstrikes demonstrate the continued priority placed on counterterrorism in Syria. By targeting both ISIS and Hurras al-Deen, the U.S. military is sending a clear message: despite the lack of mainstream attention in recent years, the fight against extremist groups in Syria is far from over. These strikes are part of a broader U.S. strategy to degrade the operational capabilities of terrorist organizations, ensuring that they are unable to regroup or reestablish territorial control.
Moreover, the elimination of senior leaders within these groups has far-reaching consequences. Extremist organizations such as ISIS and al-Qaeda often rely heavily on charismatic leadership figures to maintain cohesion and motivate recruits. With key leaders killed, these groups are likely to face internal disruption, making it harder for them to plan coordinated attacks or expand their influence.
Additionally, the strikes highlight the evolving nature of warfare in the region. Instead of large, conventional military operations, U.S. forces are increasingly relying on targeted strikes, intelligence sharing, and partnerships with local forces like the SDF to achieve their objectives. This strategy is seen as a more sustainable and effective way to contain the threat posed by ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates, while minimizing the risks associated with long-term military occupation.
While the U.S. military’s focus in Syria remains squarely on counterterrorism, the broader Syrian conflict continues to evolve in ways that complicate the situation on the ground. Since the outbreak of the civil war in 2011, Syria has become a patchwork of competing factions, including Syrian government forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, various rebel groups, Kurdish militias, and foreign-backed militias from Iran, Turkey, and Russia. Each of these actors has different agendas, further complicating U.S. efforts to maintain stability and combat extremism in the region.
The presence of Iranian-backed militias, in particular, poses a significant challenge for U.S. forces in Syria. These groups have established a foothold in strategic areas, including near the Iraqi border, where they serve as proxies for Tehran’s regional ambitions. The U.S. and its allies have occasionally clashed with these militias, leading to fears that the conflict could escalate into a broader confrontation between the U.S. and Iran.
However, despite these challenges, the U.S. remains committed to preventing ISIS and other extremist groups from regaining strength. The airstrikes in September represent just one piece of a larger effort to stabilize the region and protect both American interests and the interests of its regional allies.
The fight against ISIS, Hurras al-Deen, and other extremist groups in Syria is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. While U.S. airstrikes have successfully neutralized key leaders and disrupted militant operations, the underlying conditions that allowed these groups to rise in the first place—namely, political instability, economic hardship, and sectarian divides—remain largely unresolved.
The Assad regime, backed by Russia and Iran, has regained control of most of the country, but large areas remain outside its reach, particularly in the north and east. These regions, which are under the control of Kurdish forces and various opposition factions, continue to be hotbeds for extremist activity. The Syrian government’s inability to fully restore order, combined with the complex web of competing interests in the country, means that extremist groups will likely continue to exploit these areas as safe havens for recruitment and training.
For the U.S. and its allies, this presents a difficult dilemma: how to sustain the fight against terrorism in Syria without becoming entangled in the country’s broader conflict. While airstrikes and targeted operations will remain key components of the U.S. strategy, there is growing recognition that a lasting solution to the threat of extremism in Syria will require more than just military action. It will also require diplomatic efforts, humanitarian assistance, and support for local governance structures that can provide stability and address the root causes of extremism.
The recent U.S. airstrikes in Syria, which killed 37 militants affiliated with ISIS and Hurras al-Deen, mark another chapter in the ongoing fight against extremism in the Middle East. While these operations have delivered significant blows to both groups, the broader struggle to prevent the resurgence of terrorist organizations in Syria continues. As long as the conditions that give rise to extremism persist, the U.S. and its allies will need to remain vigilant, prepared to strike when necessary, and committed to supporting efforts to build a more stable and secure Syria.
