US airstrike in Syria kill senior leader of Al-Qaeda affiliate Hurras al-Din

Middle East, News, US February 25, 2025 , by IRIA No Comments

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U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria on February 21, 2025, killing a senior leader of Hurras al-Din (HaD), a terrorist organization and an affiliate of Al-Qaeda.

The U.S. airstrike targeted HaD senior leadership facilitator Wasim Tahsin Bayraqdar with a possible hellfire missile, while he was traveling on a personal vehicle.

Commander of the U.S. Central Command, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla said, “We will relentlessly pursue and destroy terrorist threats, no matter their location, in order to protect our homeland and our allies and partners.”⁩

The image circulating on social media platforms showed a silver Hyundai vehicle hit by a U.S. missile, resulting in the death of the Hurras al-Din leader.

The airstrike was part of CENTCOM’s continued efforts, in coordination with regional partners, to disrupt and weaken terrorist activities aimed at planning, organizing, and carrying out attacks against civilians and military personnel from the U.S., its allies, and partners both in the region and beyond.

Earlier on February 15, the U.S. forces also conducted an airstrike in the same region killing a senior finance and logistics official in the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din.

U.S. conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria killing Wasim Tahsin Bayraqdar — *^{The U.S. forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria killing Wasim Tahsin Bayraqdar. (Image Credit: X/CENTCOM)}*

Hurras al-Din (HaD) is an al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist group based in Syria. It was formed in 2018 by hardline militants who split from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) after HTS distanced itself from al-Qaeda. The group operates primarily in northwest Syria, particularly in Idlib, and has been involved in attacks against Syrian government forces, rival militant factions, and Western interests.

HaD is part of the broader al-Qaeda network and has consistently upheld a strict interpretation of jihad, opposing any negotiations with the Syrian government or foreign entities. The group sees itself as the true standard-bearer of al-Qaeda’s vision in Syria, rejecting compromises or power-sharing arrangements with other militant factions.

HaD has faced significant setbacks, including leadership losses due to U.S. drone strikes and clashes with HTS, which has sought to consolidate power in Idlib. The group remains operational but is considerably weakened, struggling with recruitment, financing, and maintaining influence within Syria’s fragmented militant landscape.

While it lacks the territorial control of larger factions like HTS or ISIS, HaD continues to be a high-priority target for counterterrorism efforts due to its ties to al-Qaeda’s global network and its potential role in plotting international attacks. Despite its relatively small size, HaD remains a significant player among jihadist groups in Syria.

Last year in December, soon after the collapse of Assad’s government, the U.S. Air Force carried out a large-scale series of airstrikes on central Syria targeting more than 75 locations associated with the ISIS group.

The Syrian civil war facilitated the rise of ISIS and other terrorist organizations in the region, drawing the U.S. and its allies into a prolonged campaign to dismantle the extremist groups. At present, approximately 900 U.S. personnel remain in Syria, primarily stationed in the northeast.

US MQ-9 Reaper Drone — *^{A U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone firing a Hellfire missile. (Image Credit: U.S. Air Force)}*

Although ISIS has lost its proclaimed territory, the group has maintained a presence through sleeper cells and insurgent tactics, targeting local security forces, infrastructure, and civilians. The U.S. intelligence warns that a full resurgence remains possible if pressure on the group is not maintained. The international coalition against ISIS, led by the U.S., remains committed to combating the threat through both military and diplomatic means.