Leader of al-Qaeda affiliated group in Syria killed in US raid

The man was a member of the Hurras al Din council / Reference Photo

US forces carried out an attack in Syria that killed a senior leader of the Hurras al Din (Guardians of Religion) group, considered the current branch of Al Qaeda in that country, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on Friday.

The “targeted” attack killed Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Makki, a member of the Hurras al Din council and a senior leader responsible for overseeing terrorist operations from Syria, CENTCOM said in a statement.

Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of Central Command, said in the statement that U.S. forces remain committed to “defeating terrorists who threaten the United States, its allies and partners, and regional stability.”

Hurras al Din has been in the crosshairs of the United States for some time.

Last April, one of its leaders, Sami al Uryadi, was included on the list of global terrorists for his “leadership” role within the group, and a reward of 5 million dollars was established for information on his whereabouts.

In announcing the reward, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said groups like Hurras al Din “are responsible for murder, kidnapping, and violence against members of religious minorities.”

Last year, the European Union (EU) included Hurras al Din, a group of former members of the al-Nusra Front, the former Syrian affiliate of al-Qaeda, on its list of sanctioned entities.

Miami / EFE