US Military Eliminates Senior Al Qaeda-Linked Militant in Syria Strike
As-salamu alaykum, everyone. The US Central Command announced that a senior member linked to Al Qaeda was killed in an air strike in Syria last week. Muhammad Al Ahmad, who was part of the Al Qaeda-affiliated group Ansar Al Islam, was taken down on October 2. Centcom’s leader, Admiral Brad Cooper, stated that they remain committed to protecting their homeland, soldiers, allies, and partners in the region and beyond.
This event comes as the US plans to reduce its military presence in Iraq and focus more on fighting ISIS remnants in Syria. Earlier this year, the US had about 2,500 troops stationed in Iraq and over 900 in Syria, as part of an alliance formed back in 2014 to combat ISIS’s control over parts of both countries.
Once these changes take place, the number of US troops in Iraq will fall below 2,000, mostly based in the Kurdistan Region, though exact figures and timelines are still being worked out. The US also agreed last year to leave the Ain Al Asad air base in western Anbar province and transfer control to Baghdad. However, concerns continue about the presence of ISIS fighters in Syria and the possibility of thousands detained in Kurdish-controlled areas being released.
On a related note, Syria’s President Ahmad Al Shara, who once led a group linked to Al Qaeda, led the rebellion that overthrew Bashar Al Assad last year. Interestingly, US leadership has shown some acceptance of the new government in Damascus.
https://www.thenationalnews.co