Worthy Christian News > World News > US Strikes Terror Targets in Syria, Kills 37 Jihadist Militants

US Strikes Terror Targets in Syria, Kills 37 Jihadist Militants

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The United States killed 37 militants associated with Islamic State and al-Qaeda during two airstrikes carried out this month against terrorist targets in northwest Syria, US Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced.

In a September 29 press release, CENTCOM said it carried out the strikes on September 16 and September 14 respectively. Two of those killed in the strikes were senior leaders of the al-Qaeda-affiliated Hurras al-Deen group, CENTCOM said. No civilians are known to have been killed in the strikes.

“On the early morning of Sept. 16, CENTCOM forces conducted a large-scale airstrike on a remote ISIS training camp in central Syria, killing at least 28 ISIS operatives, including at least four senior leaders. The airstrike will disrupt ISIS’ capability to conduct operations against U.S. interests, as well as our allies and partners,” the press release reads.

Concerning the September 24 strike, the CENTCOM statement says: “On Sept. 24, CENTCOM Forces conducted a targeted strike in northwest Syria, killing nine terrorist operatives, including Marwan Bassam ‘Abd-al-Ra’uf, a senior Hurras al-Din leader responsible for overseeing military operations from Syria. Hurras al-Din is an Al Qaeda-affiliated organization based in Syria with global aspirations to conduct attacks against U.S. and Western interests.”

Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander, US Central Command, explained in a statement: “These strikes against leadership and operatives of ISIS and the Al Qaeda affiliate, Hurras al-Din, represent CENTCOM’s commitment to the enduring defeat of terrorist organizations in the CENTCOM area of responsibility and our support to regional stability.”