Overview

• U.S. Central Command said a precision strike on Oct. 2 killed Muhammad Abd‑al‑Wahhab al‑Ahmad, identified as an attack planner for the Al‑Qaeda‑affiliated Ansar al‑Islam.
• CENTCOM publicly announced the outcome on Oct. 7 and assessed the result with high confidence, according to reporting by a Pentagon correspondent.
• The exact location of the strike in Syria was not disclosed by U.S. officials, though some outlets reported it occurred in Idlib.
• CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said U.S. forces remain postured to disrupt terrorists’ ability to plan and conduct attacks.
• The strike follows earlier 2025 U.S. actions against ISIS and Hurras al‑Din leaders as the military consolidates its Syria footprint under CJTF–OIR.