Overview

• The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the death of ISIS leader Abu Yusif, also known as Mahmud, in a precision airstrike in Syria's Deir Ezzor province on Thursday.
• Another ISIS operative was also killed in the strike, which was conducted in an area previously controlled by Syrian and Russian forces before the recent overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime.
• The airstrike is part of ongoing US efforts to prevent ISIS from regrouping and to disrupt plans to free over 8,000 detained ISIS operatives in Syria.
• The US military presence in Syria has increased to approximately 2,000 troops, up from the previously reported 900, to bolster anti-ISIS operations.
• This operation follows a series of recent US strikes targeting ISIS militants, including the elimination of 12 operatives earlier this week.