U.S. and Syrian Forces Capture ISIS Leader Linked to Terrorist Escapees

U.S. Central Command forces, alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), successfully apprehended an ISIS leader known to have facilitated the escape of fighters from a detention facility in Raqqah, Syria. This operation took place early on a Sunday morning, as announced by the U.S. military.

The captured individual, Khaled Ahmed al-Dandal, has been identified as an ISIS facilitator believed to be instrumental in helping fighters escape from the detention center.

Just a few days prior, on Thursday, there was a significant security breach when five foreign terrorist fighters associated with ISIS managed to escape from the detention facility located in Ar Raqqah, situated in northern Syria. In a swift response, the SDF recaptured two of those escapees: Imam Abdulwahed Akhwan, a Russian national, and Muhammad Noh Muhammad from Libya.

Efforts are ongoing to locate the three remaining detainees who are still at large: Timor Talbrken Abdash from Russia and two Afghans, Shuab Muhammad Al-Abdli and Atal Khaled Zar.

General Michael Erik Kurilla, the commander of U.S. Central Command, emphasized the ongoing threat posed by ISIS. He noted that one of the group’s main objectives is to orchestrate the release of their fighters from detention, which could potentially enable the resurgence of ISIS. “Over 9,000 ISIS detainees remain in over 20 SDF detention facilities in Syria, creating a literal and figurative ‘ISIS Army’ in detention,” he stated. The gravity of the situation underscores the potential danger that a mass escape could represent for the region and beyond.

“If a large number of these ISIS fighters escaped, it would pose an extreme danger to the region and beyond,” Kurilla continued. He reiterated the commitment of the U.S. to collaborate closely with the international community to repatriate these individuals to their respective countries for proper legal adjudication.

The release further clarified Central Command’s ongoing commitment to support the SDF in ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS and promoting regional stability.

On the same Thursday when the escape occurred, a separate operation in Iraq targeted ISIS militants. U.S. service members, in cooperation with Iraqi Security Forces, engaged in a raid that resulted in the deaths of 15 ISIS fighters. Unfortunately, seven U.S. service members were injured during this operation.

Fortunately, all injured personnel are reported to be in stable condition, according to Central Command.

The intense operations against ISIS reflect a broader strategy to diminish the organization’s capabilities while also working to safeguard the people of the region from the group’s potential resurgence. Ongoing collaboration between U.S. forces, the SDF, and other partners remains vital as the fight against terror continues.