US Airstrike Kills Senior ISIS Leader Ali Husayn al-Ulaywi in Northwest Syria

A United States airstrike in northwestern Syria has killed Ali Husayn al-Ulaywi , a senior leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), marking the latest American operation against the terror group's remaining leadership despite its territorial defeat several years ago.

According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) , the precision strike was carried out on June 19 in northwest Syria and was publicly announced on June 24. The operation targeted al-Ulaywi as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt and eliminate terrorists seeking to attack Americans abroad and the U.S. homeland. CENTCOM said its forces continue to work alongside regional partners in counterterrorism operations.

Syrian activists had earlier reported that a motorcycle rider was killed in an airstrike near the village of Deir Hassan , close to the Turkish border, but the identity of the target was not immediately known. U.S. officials later confirmed that the person killed was al-Ulaywi.

CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the United States and its partners remain committed to eliminating ISIS remnants and ensuring the group's enduring defeat.

The strike comes amid growing concerns about an ISIS resurgence in Syria following the collapse of the Assad family's five decade rule in December 2024. Intelligence and security officials have warned that the group has been reactivating sleeper cells, increasing recruitment, moving fighters into urban centres and attempting to exploit instability in Syria and Iraq. The United Nations estimates that between 1,500 and 3,000 ISIS fighters remain active across the two countries.

In February, ISIS spokesman Abu Huzaifa al-Ansari urged followers worldwide to target Jewish and Western interests, while the group announced a new phase of attacks against Syria's authorities.