New York: On Thursday, January 30, the U.S. military carried out an airstrike in northwestern Syria. Senior operative Muhammad Salah al-Za’bir, affiliated with the Hurras al-Din group, was killed in the attack. According to Reuters, the U.S. Central Command confirmed that this air attack was intended to help slow the spread of terrorist attacks. Finally, this bombing co-occurred with the official appointment of rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa as the interim president of Syria after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government. As of December 2024, the U.S. had conducted more than 75 air attacks to target ISIS.
Previously, the U.S. military launched major operations against ISIS and joined the ranks of Islamic State combatants after the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. B-52 bombers and F-15 fighter jets again played a significant role in the fight against roads, bridges, and military infrastructure. The goal of the operation was to deprive of opportunities for terrorists to establish a power base in the region and take control of the existing political vacuum resulting from the fall of the Assad state. With the increasing clout of rebel factions and the new interim government issue, analysts believe that the U.S. military will intensify its war on terror with the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s demonstration.
In Gaza, where fighting between Israel and Hamas is a long piece of cake, hostilities can also be expected in a situation in which a new rebel government or terrorist organization takes over. Having taken over Hashem Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, led by Ahmed al-Shara, promised to be sworn in as the new interim president and represent Syria around the world until a new government took over. The American military had already assisted this group following previous attacks on the country.