US says it killed top ISIS official in Syria

U.S. forces on Tuesday killed a senior ISIS official in Syria, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) announced in a statement Thursday.

The “successful raid” in northern Syria targeted an unnamed senior ISIS member who also served as a “key financier who planned attacks in Syria and Iraq,” according to the Centcom statement.

Centcom said the senior ISIS member had relationships in the region, “posing a direct threat to U.S. and Coalition forces and the new Syrian Government.”

“We will continue to pursue ISIS terrorists with unwavering determination, throughout the region,” Centcom's commander, Adm. Brad Cooper, said in the statement.

“Together with our partners and allies, CENTCOM remains steadfast in our commitment of ensuring the lasting defeat of ISIS and the protection of the U.S. homeland,” he continued.

Trump has moved to ease sanctions significantly on Syria in the wake of the ousting of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad in December. A delegation of congressional members recently visited Syria and met with President Ahmed al-Sharaa and other senior officials in the administration.

Centcom forces last month killed another senior ISIS leader, Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and his two adult ISIS-affiliated sons, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani. U.S. officials similarly said the ISIS members posed a threat to U.S. and coalition forces, including the Syrian government.