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The leader of the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria was killed on Tuesday by a US drone strike.
Maher al-Agal, whom the military described as “one of the top five IS leaders and the leader of IS in Syria”, was killed after being attacked near Jindairis in the northwest of the country.
“This strike reaffirms CENTCOM’s unwavering commitment to the region and the lasting defeat of ISIS,” Col. Joe Buccino, a spokesman for Central Command, said in a statement. “Removing these ISIS leaders will disrupt the terrorist organization’s ability to plan and carry out global attacks.
Maher, according to defense officials, is “responsible for aggressively pursuing the development of ISIS networks outside of Iraq and Syria.”
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A masked Islamic State soldier poses holding an ISIS flag in 2015. (Photos by History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
CENTCOM also says that “a senior ISIS official closely associated with Maher was seriously injured during the strike.”
“This operation underwent extensive planning to ensure its successful execution,” he added. “Initial examination indicates no civilian casualties.”
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Despite Maher’s elimination, Buccino said that “ISIS continues to pose a threat to the United States and partners in the region.
“CENTCOM maintains a sufficient and sustained presence in the region and will continue to counter threats to regional security,” he added.
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
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