The US military killed a senior Al Qaeda-linked member in an air strike in Syria last week, its Central Command has said.
Centcom said Muhammad Al Ahmad was a member of the Al Qaeda-affiliated group Ansar Al Islam. He was killed on October 2.
“We will continue to defend our homeland, warfighters, allies and partners throughout the region and beyond,” Centcom head Admiral Brad Cooper said in a statement on Tuesday.
The killing comes after the Pentagon recommitted itself to scaling back its mission in Iraq under a plan that focuses troops on combating ISIS remnants in Syria.
The US had approximately 2,500 troops in Iraq at the start of 2025 and more than 900 in Syria as part of a coalition formed in 2014 to combat ISIS as it controlled much of the two countries.
Once the transitions are completed, the total number of US forces in Iraq will number fewer than 2,000, and the majority of them will be in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, a defence official has said. A final number and timeline have yet to be determined.
The US agreed last year to depart Iraq's Ain Al Asad air base in western Anbar province and hand it over to Baghdad. Washington has remained concerned about the presence of ISIS fighters in Syria and the risk that thousands being held in prisons in the Kurdish-controlled areas could be freed.
Syria's President Ahmad Al Shara, a former leader of an Al Qaeda offshoot, led rebel forces that overthrew Bashar Al Assad's government last year. US President Donald Trump has warmed to the new leadership in Damascus.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814