A U.S. airstrike in northwest Syria last week killed a senior Islamic State figure, U.S. Central Command said Wednesday, drawing quick praise from North Carolina Sen. Ted Budd. The precision strike on June 19 killed Ali Husayn al‑‘Ulaywi and was described by U.S. officials as part of a broader push to disrupt ISIS networks that could threaten Americans and regional partners.
Eliminating ISIS terrorists determined to threaten, kill Americans, and harass our allies in the Middle East only makes Americans safer. Thank you, @POTUS, @SecWar, & our @CENTCOM troops for taking out a top ISIS terrorist in Syria bent on terrorizing Americans. https://x.com/i/status/2069910945279947023
— Ted Budd (@tedbudd) June 24, 2026
CENTCOM: Strike Killed Senior ISIS Leader
U.S. Central Command said its forces conducted a precision airstrike in northwest Syria on June 19 that killed Ali Husayn al‑‘Ulaywi, part of ongoing efforts to "disrupt and eliminate terrorists seeking to attack Americans abroad or the U.S. homeland," according to Reuters. The military publicly identified al‑‘Ulaywi by name and said CENTCOM is continuing operations with regional partners to remove remaining ISIS leaders. Adm. Brad Cooper said the command and its partners remain committed to rooting out remnants of the group.
ISIS Remnants and Recent Strikes
Although ISIS lost its territorial caliphate years ago, its sleeper cells have continued to carry out attacks and inspire violence, keeping U.S. commanders focused on targeting the group’s leadership. The U.S. military has launched multiple strikes across Syria this year, and February operations followed a December ambush that killed two U.S. service members and an American interpreter, as reported by AP. For background on earlier U.S. operations in the region, see how U.S. forces decimate ISIS mastermind.
Sen. Budd and the Political Response
Sen. Ted Budd quickly took to X to thank the president, the defense secretary and CENTCOM troops for "taking out a top ISIS terrorist" and argued that the action "only makes Americans safer," as seen in his post. Budd, a Republican senator from North Carolina, framed the strike as a necessary step to defend U.S. citizens and allies abroad.
What’s Next
CENTCOM described the operation as part of an ongoing campaign to remove leaders who could plot or inspire attacks, and commanders signaled that operations will continue in coordination with regional partners, according to Reuters. Officials did not release further operational details, and the U.S. typically keeps specifics under wraps for security reasons.
