ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States killed a senior leader of an al-Qaeda affiliate in an airstrike in northwest Syria on Friday, the military announced on Saturday.
“On Feb. 21, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria, killing Wasim Tahsin Bayraqdar, a senior leadership facilitator of the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate,” read the statement.
“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.
Hurras al-Din, or Guardians of Religion, broke away from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in 2018. HTS led the Syrian rebel coalition that toppled Bashar al-Assad’s 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.
"We will relentlessly pursue and destroy terrorist threats, no matter their location, in order to protect our homeland and our allies and partners," said CENTCOM commander General Michael Erik Kurilla.
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.
