US continues al-Qaeda fight with strike on Syrian affiliate Hurras al-Deen

KABUL -- A US precision airstrike in northwest Syria on February 15 killed a senior finance and logistics official of al-Qaeda affiliated Hurras al-Deen, the US military said.

The strike is part of US and partner efforts "to disrupt and degrade efforts by terrorists to plan, organize and conduct attacks," US Central Command said.

Hurras al-Deen's command structure has been significantly degraded through successive US strikes targeting its leaders and operatives, which have penetrated areas traditionally considered safe havens.

On January 30, a US airstrike killed senior Hurras al-Deen operative Muhammad Salah al-Zabir when it targeted his vehicle in Syria's Idlib province, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

A US strike in northwest Syria on September 24 killed nine Hurras al-Deen elements, including senior leader Marwan Bassam Abd-al-Rauf, who was responsible for overseeing military operations from Syria.

An August operation eliminated Hurras al-Deen Shura council member Abu Abdul Rahman al-Makki, who directed terrorist operations across Syria.

Hurras al-Deen, which emerged in February 18, was designated as terrorist organization by the United States in 2019.

In late January, Hurras al-Deen announced its dissolution based on a decision by "the general command of al-Qaeda," indicating the decision came "in light of developments" in Syria, AFP reported.

Some saw this as a ploy to enable the group to join the fledgling Syrian forces.

Pressure intensifies

US forces dealt al-Qaeda a body blow when they killed its leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in a July 2022 drone strike in Kabul. They have continued to aggressively pursue al-Qaeda and its affiliates in various countries.

"US operations in recent years have crippled al-Qaeda," Herat-based political analyst Mohammad Naser Herawi told Salaam Times.

"Most of its leaders have been killed, and now no one dares to take on its leadership," he said. "Anyone who assumes command will be eliminated like their predecessors."

The pressure has intensified since al-Zawahiri's death, as US forces systematically dismantle the network's core structure and force remaining operatives into hiding, Herawi said.

"Key figures of this terrorist group have been taken out one after another in different countries," he added. "The fight against al-Qaeda has been highly successful and has prevented its resurgence."

"Weakening al-Qaeda is not only in the interest of the United States but benefits all of humanity," Herat-based political analyst Abdul Qader Kamel told Salaam Times.

"To completely eradicate al-Qaeda, military pressure on its leaders in various countries must be maintained," he said.

"This terrorist network remains a threat to global security, and preventing its resurgence is essential for ensuring safety worldwide."