U.S. forces carried out an operation targeting the Islamic State (ISIS) in the city of al-Bab in the Aleppo countryside, killing several ISIS members.

According to a statement posted Friday, July 25, on X by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the raid took place in the early hours of the morning in al-Bab and resulted in the death of senior ISIS leader Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, along with his two sons, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani—both of whom were also members of the organization.

CENTCOM stated that the individuals targeted posed a threat to U.S. and coalition forces, as well as to the new Syrian government.

The targeted site reportedly included three women and three children, none of whom were harmed during the operation.

General Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, affirmed that U.S. forces would relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they are.

Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Aleppo, citing multiple local sources, reported that the Syrian government, in coordination with the international coalition, carried out its first joint operation against ISIS in al-Bab, eastern Aleppo.

As of the time of this report, the Syrian Ministry of Interior had not issued an official statement regarding the operation. When contacted by Enab Baladi, Interior Ministry media officer Mustafa al-Abdou said there was currently no information available about the target.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that special forces from the international coalition conducted an airborne landing in the al-Bughazal neighborhood of al-Bab, targeting an ISIS cell. The operation involved ground forces from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian General Security Directorate.

The operation was preceded by a tight security cordon around the target area and the deployment of extensive ground forces, accompanied by coalition helicopters flying overhead.

According to the Observatory, the targeted ISIS cell included an Iraqi national serving as an emir. The group had been active in coordinating and mobilizing sleeper cells in northern Syria.

The Observatory also reported that coalition cargo planes, escorted by helicopters, flew over the town of Jalabiya and surrounding areas as U.S. forces relocated equipment and personnel from the Sarrin base to other deployment points.

In the past few hours, ISIS cells carried out three simultaneous attacks against the SDF in Deir Ezzor, according to the Syrian Observatory.

Previously, CENTCOM announced it had conducted six operations against ISIS in Syria and Iraq. In a June 5 statement posted to X, it said that from May 21 to 27, CENTCOM supported partner forces in operations to defeat ISIS—five in Iraq and one in Syria.

Those operations resulted in the killing of two ISIS operatives, the arrest of two others (including one commander), and the recovery of multiple weapons.