--- title: "US military kills a leader of an al-Qaeda-linked group in Syria" date: "2024-08-24" modified: "2024-08-24" authors: - name: "Nicholas Slayton" job_title: "Contributing Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/nicholas-slayton.md" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/us-military-syria-hurras-al-din/" categories: - "Around the World" - "Middle East" - "News" tags: - "syria" - "Terrorism" --- # US military kills a leader of an al-Qaeda-linked group in Syria ![Syria ISIS raid Central Command]() *FILE: A U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to A Company, 224th Aviation Regiment, 2nd Battalion prepares to take off on a transportation mission at Erbil, Iraq, Jan. 14, 2017. (U.S. Army photo)* U.S. forces successfully killed a leader of a Syrian terrorist organization early Friday morning. Abu-’Abd al-Rahman al-Makki, part of the governing council for Hurras al-Din, was killed in a targeted strike, U.S. Central Command shared on Aug. 23. CENTCOM confirmed al-Makki’s death on Friday, saying he was killed in a “kinetic strike.” CENTCOM did not elaborate on what weapons were used or how specifically al-Makki was killed. al-Makki was identified as a “senior leader responsible for overseeing terrorist operations from Syria” by CENTCOM,” and as part of the group’s shura council, although CENTCOM did not provide any additional information on the target, such as nationality or background. “CENTCOM remains committed to the enduring defeat of terrorists in the CENTCOM area of responsibility who threaten the United States, its allies and partners, and regional stability," Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, said in a statement. [**Subscribe to Task & Purpose Today**]()**. Get the latest military news and culture in your inbox daily.** Hurras al-Din formally came together during the ongoing Syria Civil War, with its founders coming from previously established Salafist militant and terrorist organizations to establish the new group in 2018. American forces have targeted the group throughout the years, including operations in 2019 in western Syria. The group is linked to al-Qaeda but is not officially a part of that specific terror organization. In April 2023, the United States Treasury [designated]() the group’s leader Sami Mahmud Mohammed al Uraydi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and put up a reward for any information leading to his capture. The successful strike on al-Makki comes as the United States and its partners continue to hunt for members of militant groups, mainly ISIS, in Iraq and Syria. Even after ousting ISIS from its strongholds years ago, the [group remains active]() and a threat to people in the region. ## The latest on Task & Purpose - [**Army fires**]() **Command Sergeant Major for Military District of Washington** - **Navy tells aircrews to question** [**‘inappropriate’ call signs**]() **after lewd flight name** - [**Army fires**]() **Command Sergeant Major of Fort Belvoir cyber unit** - **Seeking ‘warfighter mindset,’ Air Force basic trainees now** [**carrying rifles**]() **through boot camp** - **Marine training for** [**winter Olympics**]() **bobsled team while in Iraq** ## Author Nicholas Slayton is a contributing editor for Task & Purpose, covering conflict for over 12 years, from the Arab Spring to the war in Ukraine. His previous reporting can be found on the non-profit Aslan Media, The Atlantic, Al Jazeera, The New Republic, The American Prospect, Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, and the Los Angeles Downtown News. You can reach him at nicholas@taskandpurpose.com or find him on Twitter @NSlayton and Bluesky at @nslayton.bsky.social. ### Author social links [Twitter]()