Posted by Updated Feb 3, 2022, 09:21am EST
U.S. forces killed Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, the leader of Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), during a Wednesday night raid in northwest Syria, President Joe Biden announced in a statement Thursday morning, and the Associated Press and Reuters report more than a dozen people died during the operation.
Key Facts
There were no U.S. casualties, Biden said, continuing that the counterrorism operation made “the world a safer place.”
Thirteen people died in the raid, including six women and four children, according to the Associated Press and Reuters, citing local witnesses and first responders.
U.S. forces arrived via helicopter in Atmeh, a Syrian town in the rebel-controlled Idlib Province Wednesday night and exchanged gunfire for two hours, according to the Associated Press.
al-Qurayshi died early in the raid after setting off a bomb that killed himself and members of his family, the New York Times reports, citing an anonymous senior White House official.
Biden will address the press later Thursday morning.
Key Background
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said earlier Thursday morning that the U.S. carried out a “successful” raid in northwest Syria but provided no further details past saying the U.S. suffered no casualties. A U.S. drone strike in December also in the Idlib Province killed a local al Qaeda leader, injuring a civilian family in the process. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the previous leader of ISIS, died during a 2019 U.S. raid.
Crucial Quote
Biden said in his statement: “Last night at my direction, U.S. military forces in the northwest Syria successfully undertook a counterterrorism operation to protect the American people and our Allies, and make the world a safer place. Thanks to the skill and bravery of our Armed Forces, we have taken off the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi—the leader of ISIS. All Americans have returned safely from the operation. I will deliver remarks to the American people later this morning. May God protect our troops.”
Further Reading
U.S. Special Forces Carry Out Counterterrorism Raid In Northwest Syria, Civilian Casualties Reported (Forbes)
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