US military kills IS leader in airstrike in Syria

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces had carried out an airstrike that killed IS leader Abu Yusif in eastern Syria.

Another ISIS operative was also killed in the strike that took place on Thursday, the agency said in a statement friday morning

“As stated before, the United States, working with allies and partners in the region, will not allow ISIS to take advantage of the current situation in Syria and reconstitute itself,” said CENTCOM Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla. “ISIS intends to break out of custody of the more than 8,000 ISIS operatives currently held in facilities in Syria.”

“We will aggressively target these leaders and operatives, including those attempting to conduct external operations in Syria,” he said.

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Rebel forces captured Mengh Air Base and the town of Tel Rifaat in the Aleppo countryside on December 1, 2024, following clashes with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian regime forces . (Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The agency said they carried out the airstrike in the eastern province of Deir ez Zor in Syria, noting that it is part of its ongoing commitment to “disrupt and degrade the efforts” of terrorists.

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They said the area was previously controlled by the Syrian regime and Russian forces before the recent fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Al-Assad fled to Russia earlier this month, ending a nearly 14-year struggle to hold on to power in his country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visit the Khmeimim Air Base in Syria’s Latakia province on December 11, 2017. (RUSSIA-VOLS/Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/via Reuters/File Photo)

Turkish military attacks on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have increased since the Syrian president fled to Russia on December 8.

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Pentagon press secretary Brig. General Ryder said that in light of the instability in the region, as well as the departure of al-Assad, there are 2,000 US troops deployed in Syria.

Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed to this report.