ATMEH, Syria — U.S. Special Forces carried out a pre-dawn raid Wednesday in the Idlib Governorate of northwestern Syria, killing two senior Islamic State leaders, according to U.S. and regional officials.
The operation, conducted in coordination with both the Turkish and Syrian governments, targeted Islamic State figures operating in Atmeh, a town that has long been a refuge for militant leaders. One of those killed is reported to be Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, an Iraqi national seen as the likely successor to lead the group in Syria.
Helicopters and drones provided air support while local Syrian forces secured the perimeter. U.S. troops conducted the assault, which officials said ended without any U.S. or partner casualties.
According to Syrian security sources, one target attempted to flee but was killed in the exchange. A French woman believed to be his wife was also present during the operation, though her condition was not immediately clear.
No U.S. or partner forces were injured during the raid, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
The raid comes amid shifting power dynamics in Idlib, where Tahrir al-Sham — a former al-Qaeda affiliate with roots in the group’s global terror network — consolidated control late last year. The region remains a strategic hub for both extremist groups and counterterrorism operations.
It is the second U.S. raid in northern Syria since the Islamist-led government replaced Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December and aligned itself with the international coalition against ISIS.
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