afrinpost
Today, Tuesday 12/7/2022, the US Department of Defense announced the killing of the leader in “ISIS” in Syria, in a drone strike..
A spokesman for the Central Command in the Pentagon, Lieutenant Colonel Dave Eastburn, said that the so-called “Maher Al-Aqal” was killed while riding a motorcycle near Jindires, and one of his top associate was critically injured, according to AFP.
The US Central Command added in a statement that “extensive planning for this operation was carried out to ensure its successful implementation,” noting that “a preliminary review indicates that there were no civilian casualties.” Explaining that Al-Aqal was “responsible for aggressively pursuing the development of ISIS networks outside of Iraq and Syria”.
CNN reported that the United States, on Tuesday, carried out a strike targeting two senior ISIS leaders, including the leader of the “ISIS” organization in Syria, according to a press release issued by the US Central Command, which oversees US military operations in the Middle East. The Central Command said that “Maher al-Aqal, one of the five senior leaders of ISIS and the leader of ISIS in Syria, was killed in the strike” that took place in northwestern Syria today.
“Killing these ISIS leaders will disrupt the terrorist organization’s ability to further plot and carry out attacks,” said Colonel Joe Buccino, a spokesman for Central Command.
Local sources reported that two gunmen from the Turkish-backed “Jaish Al-Sharqiya” militia were targeted by an drone strike of the International Coalition, and the dead element was holding a personal card issued by the Afrin Local Council in the name of “Khaled Al-Sayeh.”
Farhad Shami, director of the media center of the Syrian Democratic Forces, said in a post on his personal page, commenting on the operation: “The two people who were targeted by a drone in the village of Khalta in occupied Afrin, are members of the so-called mercenaries (Ahrar al-Sharqiya), and one of them is called Khaled al-Sayeh from Homs, He joined the ranks of ISIS in Jarablus before the surrender process took place between the terrorist organization and Turkey in 2016.”
Al-Shami added that “the so-called Khaled al-Sayeh moved to Azaz and then Afrin after its occupation and remained loyal, like the rest of the faction’s elements, to ISIS and worked to attract new elements to the terrorist organization, indicating that he holds a (Local Council) card”
It is noteworthy that the Turkish forces entered the city of Jarabulus on August 24, 2016 without a battle. The occupation of the city was the first channel for ISIS elements to join the ranks of the militias loyal to Ankara, which was later called the “National Army.”
The so-called “Khaled al-Sayeh” carried a personal card issued by the local authorities created by the Turkish authorities, which certainly means that the Turkish security authorities knew of his existence.
By obtaining a personal card, the so-called “Siyah” was able to move freely in the area, and even being armed in the ranks of the pro-Turkey “Jaish al-Sharqiya” militia has granted him immunity from accountability in crossing various security and military barriers.
After the operation, the armed circles circulated the news and said that, Khaled al-Sayeh, is (Maher al-Aqal) and a group leader in ISIS, and that he joined the “Jaish Al-Sharqiya” through the so-called “Muhannad al-Kajal” at the end of 2020, for $7,000 with the knowledge of the so-called Major “Abu Ali”, the leader of the “Jaish Al-Sharqiya” militia.
Media reports confirm that hundreds of ISIS members have joined the ranks of the so-called “National Army,” and many of them have been appointed to leadership positions, and have obtained personal cards and documents that entitle them to freedom of movement in the occupied areas by Turkey.
The news of the international coalition targeting a leader in “ISIS” in the district of Jindires in the occupied region of Afrin, differs from the previous operations of the coalition, because the operation took place in the area that Ankara calls “safe” and “liberated”, and where it exercises its actual and direct authorities. The incident will be a new confirmation that the “safe zone” is the alternative havens for ISIS remnants.
