U.S. Airstrike Eliminates Senior Al-Qaeda Affiliate Leader in Syria

Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, a key Hurras al-Din military figure, was killed in a precision strike by U.S. Central Command forces on February 23.

The airstrike targeted Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, a senior military leader of Hurras al-Din, an Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in Syria.
Hurras al-Din, formed in 2018, advocates attacks against the West and aims to establish a caliphate in the Middle East.
The operation is part of CENTCOM's ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist activities and safeguard U.S., allied, and partner personnel.
The strike reportedly employed a Hellfire R9X missile, designed to minimize civilian casualties by using blades instead of explosives.
This marks the latest in a series of U.S. strikes targeting senior Hurras al-Din figures, including multiple operations earlier this year.