US Carries Out Airstrikes in Syria, 37 Militants Affiliated with ISIS, Al-Qaeda Killed

The United States carried out major airstrikes in Syria over the weekend, with the U.S. Central Command reporting that 37 militants associated with the terrorist organizations ISIS and Hurras al-Din – a militant group affiliated with Al Qaeda – were killed in the attack.

Knewz.com has learned that the Central Command (CENTCOM) reported the two targeted airstrikes on Sunday, September 29.

The statement from the CENTCOM mentioned that the airstrikes were part of the Command’s “commitment to the enduring defeat of terrorist organizations in the CENTCOM area of responsibility.”

“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Forces conducted two targeted strikes in Syria, killing 37 terrorist operatives, including multiple senior leaders of the terrorist organizations of ISIS and Hurras al-Din, an Al Qaeda affiliate,” the statement, published on Sunday, read.

The Al Qaeda-affiliated organization Hurras al-Din operates in Syria “with global aspirations to conduct attacks against U.S. and Western interests,” the U.S. Central Command explained.

“The airstrikes are part of CENTCOM’s ongoing commitment, along with partners in the region, to disrupt and degrade efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against civilians and military personnel from the U.S., our allies, and our partners throughout the region and beyond,” the statement from CENTCOM further read.

The Command mentioned that its forces also carried out a targeted airstrike in Northwest Syria the previous week, on September 24.

The attack killed a total of nine militant operatives, including senior Hurras al-Din leader Marwan Bassam ‘Abd-al-Ra’uf—believed to be responsible for overseeing military operations.

Notably, Bassam’s death came a month after another successful attack carried out by the CENTCOM, during which another senior Hurras al-Din leader, Abu-‘Abd al-Rahman al Makki, was killed.

The statement from the Command further stated that its forces “conducted a large-scale airstrike on a remote ISIS training camp in central Syria” on September 16, 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 statement mentioned.

General Michael Erik Kurilla, the commander of the U.S. Central Command, commented on the series of airstrikes carried out by the Command in Syria, saying :

“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.”

It is worth noting that the U.S. airstrikes came amidst rising tensions in the Middle East , especially with Israel reportedly gearing up for the invasion of Lebanon —two nations engaged in conflict over the Hamas -IDF ( Israel Defense Forces) war in the Gaza enclave.

It was reported that the special forces of the IDF have been carrying out “small, targeted raids” in Southern Lebanon aimed at gathering intelligence and investigating weak points, possibly in preparation for a full-scale invasion.

Reports further mentioned that Israel has been carrying out these “raids” for a few months as part of the “broader effort by Israel to degrade Hezbollah ’s capabilities along the border dividing Israel and Lebanon.”

“The IDF has made a lot of preparations for a ground incursion… Overall, this always includes special operations. This is part of the process,” Amir Avivi, a former senior Israeli military official, said about the ground raids.

Around a week before Israel’s preparations for a ground assault were reported, the IDF carried out massive airstrikes on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut, killing Hezbollah’s top military commanders—including Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the militant organization.

While Hezbollah is still reeling from the loss of its top brass, one of the senior officials of the militant group mentioned that they are “ready to engage” invading enemy forces.

“We are ready for ground engagement with the enemy if they decide to enter,” Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem said in a statement on September 30.