Breaking: US Forces Kill Senior ISIS Leader in Syria

• The U.S. forces have killed ISIS leader Ali Husayn al-‘Ulaywi in a June 19 airstrike
• Operation reflects ongoing U.S. efforts against terrorism threatening American interests
• The CENTCOM commander, Adm. Brad Cooper, emphasised commitment to defeating ISIS remnants and ensuring homeland security

Find it fast with our new search feature at Legit.ng!

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces have killed a senior ISIS leader, Ali Husayn al-‘Ulaywi, during an airstrike in northwest Syria.

The senior ISIS leader was killed on Friday, June 19, 2026, during the precision strike.

The precision strike is part of ongoing U.S. efforts to disrupt and eliminate terrorists seeking to attack Americans abroad or the U.S. homeland.

From breaking news to viral moments. Follow Legit.ng on Instagram.

The U.S. Central Command said the American forces continue to work alongside regional partners.

This was contained in a short statement issued via its X handle @CENTCOM on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.

The CENTCOM commander, Adm. Brad Cooper, said:

“CENTCOM and our partners remain committed to rooting out remaining remnants of ISIS to ensure its enduring defeat,”

“We will continue to defend the U.S. homeland, our service members, and allies and partners across the region.”

Reactions as US forces kill senior ISIS leader

@debfranklin8478

It's too bad that some of the lefties on these replies can't just say thank you to our military and the current administration for working hard to keep our country safe. You who are poking fun, I suggest you sign up and put on some US military gear and go see what they do!

@uppercut911

This is what you should have done to IRGC leaders; too many of those terrorists are still around.

@Yousefiaa

I’m so confused. I thought he was your guy. Can you guys make up your minds?

@scssmom4

How is this possible? Trump eliminated ISIS in his first term.

@wallyrashid

Wonderful. You spent decades arming, training, and funding these terrorists just to kill them years later. And as you do, Israel provides them with medical care.

@thehvymetal

Killing ISIS overseas is great… but what about taking care of the Muslim Brotherhood taking over political offices here in the US?

@Air24770291

Eliminating bad people or those who wish to commit acts of terrorism is the right thing to do for the United States."

@NaruGuruNAT

Outstanding work by CENTCOM forces. Huge respect to our service members and regional partners for keeping the pressure on and eliminating this threat to global security.

US, Nigerian forces kill ISIS second-in-command

Recall that US President Donald Trump announced a joint military operation that killed ISIS's second-in-command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, in Africa.

Success credited to coordination between American and Nigerian forces, enhancing regional security efforts.

The operation aims to significantly weaken ISIS's global operational capabilities amid ongoing West African security concerns.

US releases footage of operation killing ISIS commander

Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that the United States released the footage of its military operation in collaboration with the Nigerian forces in the northeast of Nigeria.

A clip of the operation was shared by the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in a social media post on Saturday, May 16, 2026, adding that it led to the killing of the ISIS second-in-command.

President Donald Trump of the United States and President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria have confirmed the military operation.