In a decisive early morning raid Friday, U.S. military forces reportedly killed senior ISIS figure Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani and two of his adult sons in Syria, striking a significant blow to the terrorist organization as President Donald Trump intensifies his administration’s counterterror strategy in the region.
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), al-Hardani was killed in a targeted operation in al-Bab, a city about 29 miles northwest of Aleppo.
CENTCOM described al-Hardani as a key threat to American and coalition personnel, as well as to the newly installed Syrian government.
His sons, Abdallah Dhiya and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba—both linked to ISIS—were also killed in the operation.
“There were no U.S. casualties,” CENTCOM confirmed. “Three women and three children at the location were unharmed.”
CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla lauded the success of the strike, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to eradicating Islamist extremism.
“We will continue to relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they operate,” Kurilla said. “ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, and where they hide.”
The raid underscores President Trump’s evolving strategy in Syria—one that reflects a bold pivot away from the Biden-era approach.
In recent months, the Trump administration eased economic restrictions on Syria and signaled a willingness to support stabilization efforts under the new Syrian leadership of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who seized power from longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
While al-Sharaa has a checkered past—including associations with groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Al-Qaeda—Trump has positioned the young president as a potential partner in the war on terror.
After a May meeting in Damascus, the president called al-Sharaa a “young, attractive guy. Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter.”
Though critics have voiced concerns over al-Sharaa’s previous affiliations, the Trump administration has made clear its priority is eliminating ISIS and protecting regional minorities from Islamist violence.
In recent days, U.S. officials have urged al-Sharaa to act swiftly against terror cells targeting Christians and other vulnerable populations.
Friday’s successful strike follows a March operation in Iraq in which U.S. forces killed Abu Khadijah, ISIS’s second-in-command and chief of global operations.
Khadijah was described by CENTCOM as the delegated committee emir for ISIS, overseeing international efforts to reestablish the group’s influence.
The Trump administration’s continued pursuit of high-value ISIS targets reflects a broader foreign policy realignment—one focused less on top-down regime change and more on surgical, intelligence-driven counterterrorism.
With the U.S. military maintaining a strong presence across the Middle East and cooperation deepening with new regional partners, Friday’s raid serves as a message to ISIS and its remnants: America is not retreating.
Under Trump, the doctrine is clear—Islamist extremists will be hunted wherever they operate, and nations willing to fight alongside the U.S. will find a partner in Washington.
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