Coalition forces say senior ISIS leader arrested in Syria

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A senior Islamic State (ISIS) leader was arrested in a raid in northern Syria early Thursday, the US-led coalition said in a statement, later identifying him as Hani Ahmed al-Kurdi.

The militia leader, whose name was not initially identified, is an “experienced bomb maker and operational facilitator” and a top ISIS leader in Syria, the coalition stated. 

The senior member was detained in a mission that was “meticulously planned to minimize the risk of collateral damage, particularly any potential harm to civilians,” it added. 

Al-Kurdi's name was made public on Thursday evening in a statement by the coalition, confirming that the ISIS leader was an experienced bomb maker and operational facilitator, and that he "became one of the top leaders in the Syrian branch of ISIS."

"Hani Ahmed al-Kurdi, known as Salim, was responsible for coordinating terrorist activities across the region," the statement continued. "He was instructing others on making explosive devices, supporting the construction of improvised explosive device facilities, and facilitating attacks on U.S. and partner forces."

No civilians were harmed in the operation which occurred in Aleppo. 

ISIS seized control of swathes of territory in Syria and was declared territorially defeated in 2019. 

However, remnants of the terror group continue to launch attacks as they mostly retreat into desert hideouts. 

Dozens of soldiers were killed and injured in a suspected ISIS attack on a military bus in the Syrian desert in March. 

The former leader of the militant group was killed in February when he detonated a bomb to avoid being captured during a US raid in northwest Syria’s Idlib. The United States has confirmed his death. 

ISIS named its new leader in March, its third chief since the terror group’s inception. 

Updated at 7.15 pm