ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States military announced early on Friday that its forces killed Muhammad Salah al-Za’bir, a senior operative of an al-Qaeda affiliate, in a precision airstrike in northwest Syria. US Central Command (CENTCOM) “forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria targeting and killing Muhammad Salah al-Za'bir,” the statement said, identifying him as “a senior operative in the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate.” Hurras al-Din (Guardians of Religion) broke away from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in 2018. HTS led the Syrian rebel coalition that toppled the Bashar al-Assad regime and established a transitional government. The two groups have vied for influence and territory, with HTS periodically arresting Hurras al-Din members, particularly in 2020. Efforts have been made to reconcile their differences. CENTCOM, which oversees American troops in the Middle East, has carried out several strikes against Hurras al-Din members and leaders, viewing the group as a threat to its allies and American presence in the region. “The airstrike is 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 added. "CENTCOM will continue to hunt and kill or capture terrorists, and defend our homeland, against groups that plot to attack US and allied personnel," said CENTCOM commander, General Michael Erik Kurilla.
