A strike by U.S. forces in northwestern Syria on Jan. 30, 2025, killed Muhammad Salah al-Za’bir, a Hurras al-Din senior operative, according to U.S. Central Command. (U.S. Central Command)
U.S. forces launched an airstrike in northwestern Syria this week that killed a high-ranking member of a terrorist group with ties to al-Qaida, according to U.S. Central Command.
Muhammad Salah al-Za’bir was a senior operative in Hurras al-Din, CENTCOM said late Thursday in a statement, which added that the fatal strike had occurred the same day.
The strike was part of U.S. forces’ ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorism in the region, especially as Syria transitions to a new government following the ouster of longtime strongman Bashar Assad.
The statement did not say where the strike originated. As of December, the U.S. had 2,000 troops in Syria leading a coalition whose mission is to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State group. An additional 2,500 American troops were in Iraq.
But the future of the U.S. mission in Syria under President Donald Trump is unclear.
When asked Thursday whether he will withdraw American forces from the country, Trump said: “I don’t know who said that, but we’ll make a determination on that.”
“Syria is in its own mess,” he added. “They’ve got enough messes over there. They don’t need us involved.”
CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael Kurilla said the U.S. will continue to go after terrorists and defend against groups that plot to attack it.
Announcement of the strike comes days after the Syria-based Hurras al-Din said it is dissolving.
U.S. forces have been carrying out strikes against terrorist organizations in that part of the Middle East in recent months, including attacks on ISIS targets. Late last year, a U.S. airstrike killed several high-profile members of Hurras al-Din.
