An ISIS officer who was involved in planning extremist prison breaks in Syria was killed during a raid by US and coalition forces last week, CENTCOM announced Wednesday.
Multiple weapons, ammunition, and a suicide belt were also seized during the February 10 raid.
Authorities did not release the exact location of the raid or whether there were any casualties other than the death of Ibrahim Al Qahtani.
FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) deploy around the Ghwayran prison, which holds ISIS detainees, in the northeast Syrian city of Hasakeh, January 25, 2022. (AFP via Getty Images)
More than 10,000 ISIS fighters are being held in northeast Syria, including 5,000 Syrians, 3,000 Iraqis and 2,000 extremists from outside those two countries, according to the State Department.
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Prison breaks have long been a key strategy for extremist movements in the Middle East to maintain their strength.
“ISIS knows that prison breaks work. They are tested over time and deliver results,” Ian Moss, deputy coordinator for countering violent extremism and terrorist arrests, said at a briefing in October.
“Until now, we have prevented ISIS from releasing these fighters. But there are a variety of detention centers in northeastern Syria, and we know they will try to attack them again.”
FILE PHOTO: A masked Islamic State soldier poses holding the ISIS flag in 2015. (Story/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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About 900 US troops are still in Syria to help the Syrian Democratic Forces and other coalition groups suppress ISIS.
