Payam Javan: In a significant blow to the Islamic State, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Friday the successful targeting of senior ISIS leader Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani and his two adult sons, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani, in a raid in al-Bab, Aleppo Governorate. The operation, which reportedly involved both U.S. and Syrian forces and saw no American casualties, underscores the ongoing U.S. commitment to counter-terrorism efforts in the region. U.S. officials emphasized that these individuals posed a direct threat to American and Coalition forces, as well as the new Syrian government led by Ahmed al-Shara.

The raid highlights the persistent threat of ISIS resurgence in Syria, even after the group’s territorial defeat during the Trump administration’s first term. General Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM Commander, reiterated the U.S. resolve to “relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they are,” affirming that such individuals are not safe. This operation also signals a potential deepening of cooperation between the U.S. and the new Syrian government, with recent statements from Syria’s Foreign Ministry indicating pledges of joint efforts against terrorism. The U.S. strategy remains focused on degrading ISIS capabilities and preventing the group from re-establishing safe havens in the dynamic Syrian political landscape.