LONDON — American forces in Syria have captured an ISIS leader who U.S. Central Command said facilitated a recent prison break by detained foreign fighters.
Khaled Ahmed al-Dandal was captured in a joint U.S.-Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) operation in the early hours of Sunday, CENTCOM said in a statement.
CENTCOM linked al-Dandal to the escape of five ISIS foreign fighters — two Russians, two Afghans and one Libyan — from a detention facility in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa on Aug. 29.
The SDF has already recaptured two of the escapees — Imam Abdulwahed Akhwan from Russia and Muhammad Noh Muhammad from Libya — CENTCOM said. “The search continues for the three who remain at large,” it added, naming Russian Timor Talbrken Abdash, and Shuab Muhammad Al-Abdli and Atal Khaled Zar, both from Afghanistan.
“A primary objective of ISIS remains to free their fighters currently held in detention and subsequently fuel an ISIS revival,” CENTCOM said. “CENTCOM forces, in coordination with SDF, will continue to mitigate threats of future escapes and to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS.”
The seal for the U.S. Central Command is displayed on Feb. 6, 2017, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
Susan Walsh/AP, FILE
There are more than 9,000 ISIS detainees spread across 20 SDF-run detention facilities in Syria. CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla said the prisoners represent “a literal and figurative ‘ISIS Army’ in detention.”
“If a large number of these ISIS fighters escaped, it would pose an extreme danger to the region and beyond,” Kurilla said in the CENTCOM release. “We will continue to work with the international community to repatriate these ISIS fighters to their countries of origin for final adjudication.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
ABC News’ Matt Seyler contributed to this report.
In a significant victory against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), US troops have successfully captured a high-ranking leader in Syria who was linked to a recent prison break. The capture of this ISIS leader marks a major blow to the terrorist organization and is a significant step towards dismantling their operations in the region.
The ISIS leader, whose identity has not been disclosed for security reasons, was reportedly involved in planning and executing a prison break in northeastern Syria earlier this year. The prison break resulted in the escape of hundreds of ISIS fighters and sympathizers, posing a serious threat to regional security and stability.
The successful capture of this ISIS leader is a testament to the dedication and skill of US troops operating in the region. Their swift and decisive action has not only disrupted ISIS operations but has also sent a strong message to other terrorist organizations that the United States will not tolerate their presence in the region.
This latest development comes amidst ongoing efforts by the US and its allies to combat ISIS and other extremist groups in Syria and Iraq. The capture of the ISIS leader is a significant milestone in these efforts and demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated military operations and intelligence gathering.
The US military has stated that the captured ISIS leader will be interrogated for valuable information that could help further dismantle the terrorist organization’s network in the region. This information could potentially lead to more arrests and disruptions of ISIS operations, making the region safer for civilians and US troops.
The capture of the ISIS leader also highlights the importance of international cooperation in the fight against terrorism. The US has been working closely with its allies in the region to share intelligence, conduct joint military operations, and disrupt terrorist financing networks. This coordinated approach has proven to be effective in weakening ISIS and other extremist groups in the region.
As the fight against ISIS continues, the capture of this high-ranking leader is a significant victory for US troops and their allies. It serves as a reminder that terrorism will not be tolerated, and that those who seek to harm innocent civilians will be held accountable for their actions. The US remains committed to working with its partners to ensure the safety and security of the region and to bring justice to those responsible for acts of terrorism.
