A raid conducted by US forces in Atmeh, located in northwest Syria’s Idlib province, resulted in the death of a senior member of the Islamic State (ISIS) on August 19. The operation, announced by US Central Command (CENTCOM), targeted an individual described as a “key financier” responsible for planning attacks in both Syria and Iraq. According to CENTCOM, this individual posed a direct threat to US and Coalition forces as well as the newly formed Syrian Government.
The raid aligns with the ongoing efforts of the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) to bolster regional security and ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of CENTCOM, emphasized the commitment to pursue ISIS terrorists with unwavering determination across the region.
Initial reports indicated that the operation may have resulted in the capture of Abu Hafs al-Qurayshi, an Iraqi citizen linked to ISIS and potentially identified as the group’s supreme leader. The Associated Press attributed this claim to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which suggested that another Iraqi national was also killed during the operation. However, CENTCOM’s official statement did not confirm any captures or specify the name of the target.
Syrian state media provided additional context, identifying the targeted individual as Salah Noman, also known as Ali. An unnamed security official reportedly stated that Noman was killed in the raid while residing with his family in an apartment. This incident follows a pattern of US operations in the region; in February 2022, former ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al Hashimi al Qurayshi was also killed in Atmeh during a raid.
The designation “al-Qurayshi” is significant, as it refers to the Quraish tribe, the tribe of the Prophet Muhammad. ISIS leaders often adopt this name as part of their nom de guerre to signify their supposed lineage.
The geographical context of Atmeh is critical, as the area has historically been controlled by Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), a group that played a vital role in the offensive that led to the fall of the Bashar al Assad regime in December 2024. Following this change in power, HTS’s leader, Ahmed al Sharaa, became the transitional president of Syria.
The US-led fight against ISIS is evolving as the political landscape in Syria shifts. The recent transition in command of CJTF-OIR to US Army Brigadier General Kevin J. Lambert reflects these changes. On July 25, CENTCOM reported the death of another senior ISIS leader, Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, along with two of his adult sons during a raid in the Al Bab governorate, an area under the control of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army.
US forces continue to collaborate with anti-ISIS partners, including the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian Free Army, to enhance their operations in the region. The complexities of the ongoing conflict, combined with the shifting alliances and power dynamics, underscore the challenges faced by US and Coalition forces in their mission to dismantle ISIS.
As the situation in Syria remains fluid, the impact of these operations on regional stability and security will continue to be closely monitored by global stakeholders.
