On February 3, President Joe Biden announced that US special forces had killed ISIS top leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi during a successful raid in Syria’s northwestern region.
“Last night at my direction, U.S. military forces in the northwest Syria successfully undertook a counterterrorism operation to protect the American people and our Allies, and make the world a safer place. Thanks to the skill and bravery of our Armed Forces, we have taken off the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi—the leader of ISIS. All Americans have returned safely from the operation. I will deliver remarks to the American people later this morning. May God protect our troops,” a statement by the White House reads.
The raid took place near the town of Atimah, which is located right on Syria’s border with Turkey, in the early morning hours.
A large US special force, which was backed by several attack helicopters, combat drones and fighter jet, stormed the compound where al-Qurasyshi and his family were hiding. The clashes lasted for around two hours. The terrorist leader showed fierce resistance, before reportedly blowing up himself with a bomb he was carrying.
At least 13 people were killed during the raid, including six children and four women who were likely close relatives of al-Qurasyshi.
While US special forces didn’t sustain any casualties, material losses were reported. One of the UH-60 Black Hawk that took part in the raid was allegedly blown up by special forces operators on the ground in the southern part of the Turkish-occupied area of Afrin after facing “technical problems”.
Al-Qurasyshi predecessor, Abu Baker al-Baghdadi, was killed On 26 October 2019 in a simllar US raid that also took place in the same northwestern Syrian region, known as Greater Idlib.
ISIS is yet to officially confirm the death of al-Al-Qurasyshi, whose real name is “Abdullah Qardash”. Qardash, a former officer of Saddam Hussein’s army, was a Turkmen originating from Tell Afar in western Iraq. He was a religious commissar in al-Qaeda before joining ISIS. Following the raise of ISIS in 2014, Qardash oversaw operations against the Free Syrian Army in Aleppo and the Syrian Arab Army in Deir Ezzor.
Before becoming the leader of ISIS after the death of al-Baghdadi, al-Qurasyshi personally oversaw the selection of suicide bombers and the conduct of suicide operations for the terrorist group.
The death of al-Qurasyshi was without a doubt a large blow ISIS. However, it will not likely effect the terrorist group’s operations around the world on the long term.
Source: South Front