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Press Release | April 17, 2023

CENTCOM Confirms ISIS Senior Leader killed in a Helicopter Raid in Northern Syria

USCENTCOM

Apr. 17, 2023

Release Number 20230417-02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. – Early this morning, U.S. Central Command forces killed Abd-al-Hadi Mahmud al-Haji Ali, a senior ISIS Syria leader and operational planner responsible for planning terror attacks in the Middle East and Europe. This was the ISIS leader who was killed in a previously announced unilateral helicopter raid in northern Syria today. Abd-al-Hadi Mahmud al-Haji Ali was the primary target of the raid.

This operation was launched after intelligence revealed an ISIS plot to kidnap officials abroad as leverage for ISIS initiatives.

“We know ISIS retains the desire to strike beyond the Middle East, said Col. Joe Buccino, a CENTCOM spokesperson. “This raid deals a significant blow to ISIS operations in the region but does not eliminate ISIS’ capability to conduct operations.”

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