US military officials have confirmed the detention of a high-ranking Islamic State (IS) leader during recent operations in Iraq and Syria, which resulted in the death of two additional operatives affiliated with the group. This announcement was made on Wednesday by US Central Command, which detailed that the operations took place between May 21 and May 27 and were aimed at disrupting IS’s capacity to organize and execute attacks against both civilians and military forces in the region.
In total, six operations were conducted, five in Iraq and one in Syria. The US military’s report highlighted the achievements of these operations, which included the killing of two IS operatives, the detention of two individuals (one being the IS leader), and the recovery of numerous weapons.
USCENTCOM Commander Michael Erik Kurilla stated that these operations reflect the ongoing commitment of US Central Command, alongside allied forces, to ensure the lasting defeat of ISIS in the area. The operations in Iraq were predominantly executed by Iraqi forces, particularly in the northern regions where IS cells continue to pose a threat through sporadic attacks against Iraqi military and police units.
The Islamic State had previously declared a “caliphate” in 2014, seizing vast territories in Iraq and Syria, which led to a reign of terror characterized by widespread atrocities. Although the group was defeated in Iraq by late 2017 and lost its last stronghold in Syria two years later, it has managed to sustain a presence, primarily targeting Kurdish-led forces in Syria and conducting attacks in rural Iraqi regions.
Currently, approximately 2,500 American troops are stationed in Iraq, where the government has expressed confidence in its security forces’ capabilities to handle jihadist threats independently. In a significant development, US and Iraqi officials announced plans for the international coalition to conclude its military mission in federal Iraq within the next year, with a similar timeline set for the autonomous Kurdistan region by September 2026.
In related geopolitical movements, US President Donald Trump, during a recent trip to the Gulf, met with Syria’s interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia, during which he indicated a potential lifting of sanctions on Syria.
