Key ISIS official captured in Northern Syria
The United States’ Central Command forces captured an ISIS official in Northern Syria, according to Reuters, September 30.
Mamduh Ibrahim Al-Haji Shaykh was captured on September 28 as the Central Command carried out a successful helicopter raid in collaboration with Syrian Kurdish forces.
Established in 1983, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the country’s Department of Defense.
Although Daesh has lost many of its leaders and territory, it remains highly influential in Iraq and Syria, continuing to be able to conduct operations in both countries, and has around twenty branches and networks in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Syrian Democratic Forces confirmed that the ISIS official was taken into custody in the city of Raqqa.
The capture of Al-Haji Shayk comes after the apprehension of Abu Halil Al-Fad ‘ani on September 23 by CENTCOM. Mr. Al-Fad ‘ani is an ISIS Syria Operational and Facilitation official who was found having close contact throughout the group’s regional network.
A press release carried out by CENTCOM spokesperson, Troy Garlock noted that, “The capture of ISIS officials like Al-Fad ‘ani increases our ability to locate, target, and remove terrorists from the battlefield.”
America currently has 900 troops based it the Middle Eastern country with an objective to defeat ISIS, one of the deadliest terrorist organisations on the planet.
CENTCOM commander, General Michael Kurilla has previously sounded alarm bells at the continuing threat that the group poses and affirmed that, “We have made it clear that we remain committed to the defeat of ISIS throughout the region,”.
The Central Command confirmed that no civilians were killed or injured during the two operations.
REUTERS
