Islamic State leader killed in Syria by US-backed forces

A senior figure in the Islamic State (ISIS) group was killed in a raid conducted by US-led forces in northwest Syria on July 25th, according to a statement from the US military, as reported by Asharq Al-Awsat via Reuters.

US Central Command reported that ISIS leader Dhiya Zawba Muslih al-Hardan, along with his two adult sons—also tied with the group—were killed early on July 25th during an operation in the town of al-Bab, located in the Aleppo province of Syria.

According to the statement, the individuals “posed a threat to US and Coalition Forces, as well as the new Syrian Government,” and it emphasised that three women and three children present at the location were unharmed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based organisation which monitors conflict, stated that the raid involved an airdrop of troops—marking the first such US coalition-led operation against ISIS in 2025. It also reported participation by ground forces from both the Syrian government’s General Security forces as well as the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The observatory noted that the mission was “preceded by a tight security cordon around the targeted site, a heavy deployment of forces on the ground, and the presence of coalition helicopters in the airspace of the area.”

There was no comment from either the Damascus government or the Syrian Democratic Forces regarding the raid.

Since the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad in a swift opposition campaign in 2024, Washington has built closer ties with the newly formed Syrian government. The US has been advocating for a merger between the new Syrian army and the Kurdish-led SDF, which controls large areas in the northeast. 

Meanwhile, the United States and Turkey gave the SDF a 30-day ultimatum to integrate with the Syrian government.

Nonetheless, talks between the two parties have advanced slowly, and efforts could face further delays due to the recent eruption of sectarian violence in Sweida province, where government troops allied with Bedouin clans clashed with armed Druze factions.

Asharq Al-Awsat via Reuters, Maghrebi.org