US Confirms Its Helicopter Attack In Syria Kills ISIS Attack Planned For Middle Eastern And European Regions

General Michael E. Kurilla. (Wikimedia Commons/US Army/Stff. Leo Jenkins)

JAKARTA - A US helicopter strike in northern Syria on Monday killed a senior leader of ISIS accused of planning attacks in the Middle East and Europe, the Pentagon said in a statement.

The statement said the attack targeted Abd-al-Hadi Mahmud al-Haji Ali and began after gathering intelligence that ISIS plans to kidnap officials abroad.

"Despite being degraded, ISIS (Islamic State) can still carry out operations in the region with the desire to attack outside the Middle East," General Michael Kurila, who heads US Central Command (US CENTCOM) said in a statement.

It said two other gunmen were killed in the attack and no civilians were injured.

As previously reported, CENTCOM said the early morning helicopter attack in the north of the country targeted senior ISIS members who were responsible for planning terror attacks in the Middle East and Europe.

"An extensive plan is carried out in this operation to ensure its implementation is successful," CENTCOM said.

The US is known to have about 900 troops in Syria on a mission focused on countering Iran-backed militias and preventing the rise of ISIS, in partnership with Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Washington itself is known to have carried out a series of counter attacks against ISIS in recent weeks. This comes amid rising tensions with Tehran, after a drone strike killed a US contractor at a US base in Hasakah Province last month.

Two weeks ago, US troops also killed Khalid 'Aydd Ahmad al-Jabouri, another senior leader of ISIS who CENTCOM said was responsible for planning attacks in Europe and Turkey.

It is known, ISIS once controlled a third of Iraq and Syria at its peak in 2014. Despite being pushed back in both countries, its militants continued to launch insurgent attacks.