The ongoing violence and chaotic situation in Syria plays into the hands of the terrorist militia IS.

The US military says it has killed a high-ranking leader of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in Syria. In addition to Dhija Sauba Musli al-Hardani, his two sons, who also belonged to IS, were also killed in the Aleppo area, according to US Central Command. They posed a threat to US troops and allies, as well as to the new Syrian government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Around 2,000 US soldiers are stationed in Syria, primarily aimed at fighting ISIS. In recent years, the US military has repeatedly carried out air strikes there or killed high-ranking ISIS members during ground operations.

IS once controlled large areas in Syria and neighboring Iraq. Although it is considered militarily defeated, an estimated 2,500 IS fighters remain active in both countries. They are primarily located in sparsely populated areas and are taking advantage of the ongoing insecurity and at times chaotic situation in Syria since the overthrow of ruler Bashar al-Assad.

There were conflicting reports about the extent to which the US military coordinated the operation with the new government in Damascus, which controls the town of Al-Bab in the Aleppo area, where the operation took place.

IS pursues an extremist ideology and rejects the new government in Damascus – partly because of its rapprochement with Turkey and the West. According to IS, al-Sharaa's promise to establish democratic structures represents a departure from the principle of Islamic law (Sharia) and an apostasy.