Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Terrorism
Joe Harker
A senior figure in terrorist state ISIS has been captured by US forces after they raided his compound in Syria.
US defence officials say Hani Ahmed al-Kurdi was a bomb maker for ISIS and one of the most senior figures in the group's leadership.
He was taken after a seven minute firefight without injury or loss of life to US forces or civilians.
According to the Washington Post, the bomb maker was also known as the 'Wali of Raqqa'.
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With 'Wali' being another word for 'governor', that would have made him governor of the Syrian city ISIS called their capital for a period of time.
Raqqa was the de facto capital of ISIS between January 2014 and October 2017 when it was taken by the Syrian Democratic Forces with support from the US.
The US calls the multinational military effort against ISIS 'Operation Inherent Resolve', which was first launched in 2014 and is still ongoing.
They released a statement on the capture of al-Kurdi which read: "Coalition forces detained a senior Daesh leader during an operation in Syria June 16.
"The detained individual was assessed to be an experienced bomb maker and facilitator who became one of the group’s top leaders in Syria".
"The mission was meticulously planned to minimize the risk of collateral damage, particularly any potential harm to civilians".
"There were no civilians harmed during the operation nor any damage to Coalition aircraft or assets".
They also vowed to 'hunt the remnants of Daesh' in order to 'ensure their enduring defeat'.
al-Kurdi's compound was located in north east Syria, near the border with Turkey.
According to the Daily Mail, the operation involved the use of Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters. While ISIS no longer officially holds territory, it has returned to guerrilla activities in Syria.
Airstrikes and raids have continued to target ISIS leaders, with leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi being killed during a US raid on his Syrian hideout in February after explosives his building was rigged with were detonated.
The previous leader of the terrorist group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, died in 2019 after detonating a suicide vest during a military operation after he was cornered in a tunnel by US military dogs.
Colonel Joe Buccino, spokesperson for United States Central Command, warned that despite losses 'ISIS continues to present a threat' and is still operating in the Syrian region.
ISIS still carries out attacks in Syria and neighbouring Iraq, while it still maintains links to several other countries.
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