The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the death of a leader of the Islamic State (IS) group in an airstrike in eastern Syria.

CENTCOM stated that on December 19, it conducted an airstrike targeting a leader of the Islamic State group known as “Abu Yousuf,” whose real name is Mahmoud, in Deir Ezzor province, Syria.

It added that the strike resulted in the death of two members of the group, including the leader.

They noted that the operation is part of its ongoing commitment, along with local partners, to disrupt the Islamic State’s efforts to plan and execute attacks against civilians and military personnel from the United States and its allies and partners in the region and beyond.

According to CENTCOM, the airstrike took place in an area that was previously controlled by the ousted regime forces and Russia.

The US leadership quoted its commander, General Michael Kurilla, saying, “As we have mentioned before, the United States will not allow ISIS to exploit the current situation in Syria and to reshape itself.”

He added that the group intends to free more than 8,000 of its members currently held in facilities within Syria, noting that his country will target the leaders and members of the Islamic State group, including those attempting to carry out operations outside Syria.

US airstrikes against IS sites in Syria have intensified since the fall of the Syrian regime on December 8 of this year.

American fighter jets have heavily bombed IS sites in central Syria, coinciding with opposition factions’ control of the capital, Damascus.

CENTCOM stated at the time that it had conducted dozens of airstrikes on known camps and elements of the Islamic State in central Syria.

On December 17 of the current month, the United States announced it had carried out airstrikes against IS locations in Syria, resulting in the deaths of 12 of its members.

Cells of the Islamic State are actively operating in eastern Syria and have continuously targeted groups and individuals of the previous regime forces through ambushes and explosive devices.

In early November, the International Coalition announced the execution of 95 operations against the Islamic State group within two months in both Syria and Iraq, resulting in the death of more than 150 members and the arrest of others.

At that time, CENTCOM published statistics on the coalition’s operations, stating that they amounted to 95 operations, some of which included solo US strikes in Syria.

These operations resulted in the death of 163 “terrorists” and the arrest of 33 others, including more than 30 leaders from high and mid-level ranks.