U.S. President Joe Biden announced Wednesday night that a group of U.S. troops had carried out a targeted operation in which Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi was killed while in northwestern Syria.
U.S. military action was reported to reporters by the Pentagon early Thursday morning, but the identification of the target was confirmed later in the day. A short statement from the White House, “Under Biden’s guidance, US forces have” expelled Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi from the battlefield. Biden added that none of the U.S. soldiers had been killed, while various local sources recorded at least 13 deaths among locals, including civilians.
Shortly afterwards, Biden described the move as “a testament to America’s ability to destroy terrorists wherever they are hidden in the world.”
The operation took place on Wednesday night in the town of Atmeh in the province of Idlib, very close to the Turkish border. With the support of armed helicopters, fighter jets and military jets, about twenty U.S. Special Forces personnel were involved and targeted the three-story building. U.S. forces met with armed resistance from inside the building, and fierce clashes ensued. According to eyewitnesses Feel From BBC, The militants used anti-aircraft weapons and the confrontation lasted about two hours. Eventually, most of the building was destroyed.
In his speech, Biden said Al Quraishi would die at the start of the operation, when a bomb exploded killing him and his family.
President Biden, Vice President Harris and members of the President’s National Security Council are overseeing the counter – terrorism operation responsible for removing ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al – Hashimi al – Qureshi from the battlefield. pic.twitter.com/uhK75WeUme
– White House (hWhiteHouse) February 3, 2022
Syria Civil Defense, a non-profit organization that specializes in providing relief to victims of the Syrian war, wrote on Twitter that the bodies of 13 people, including six children and four women, had been found at the end of the conflict. It is unknown at this time what caused the fire.
At least 13 people, including 6 children and 4 women, have been killed in bombings and clashes following US airstrikes since midnight. The aerial operation targeted a house #Blow A city on the Syrian-Turkish border in rural north #Itlip. pic.twitter.com/7FW3TF7aOS
– The White Helmets (ySyriaCivilDef) February 3, 2022
The U.S. action on Wednesday was much larger than it was three years ago. Led to the death of the pioneer By al-Qurashi, ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The bomber struck shortly after noon in front of a U.S. military base, killing at least 40 people and wounding dozens more.
Not much is known about al-Qureshi, who has gained worldwide fame for many years. He has been appointed head of the militant organization Announced In October 2019, after Baghdadi’s death, but for a long time his identity remained unknown. His real name (Abu Ibrahim al Hashimi al Qurayshi is a nam de guerre).
The area where the test took place is nominally under Turkish control, but according to various analysts, it has long been controlled by the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which defines it as hostile to both the Islamic State and Al Qaeda.
