The U.S. military said it killed a senior al-Qaeda-linked militant in a targeted airstrike in Syria on October 2, reaffirming its commitment to counterterrorism operations in the region. The individual, identified as Mohammad Abdulwahab al-Ahmad, was a key member of Ansar al-Islam, a group affiliated with al-Qaeda, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

In a statement released Tuesday, CENTCOM Commander General Brad Cooper said U.S. forces remain well-positioned across the Middle East to disrupt and eliminate terrorist networks seeking to plan and carry out attacks. He stressed that the U.S. will continue to defend its homeland, its forces, and its regional partners against extremist threats.

“The United States and its allies will not allow terrorist organizations to re-establish safe havens or threaten global security,” Cooper added. The statement underscored Washington's ongoing efforts to dismantle militant leadership structures operating within Syria's volatile northern provinces.

While further details about al-Ahmad's activities were not disclosed, officials said intelligence operations are ongoing to assess the impact of his death on the broader network of al-Qaeda-linked groups. The strike is believed to have disrupted several planned operations in the region.

The U.S. military has been gradually reducing its troop presence in Syria since April, part of a broader plan to downsize its deployment to fewer than 1,000 soldiers. Despite this drawdown, the Pentagon maintains that counterterrorism operations will continue through intelligence coordination and precision strikes.

Experts say the killing of al-Ahmad highlights Washington's continued capability to conduct high-value counterterrorism missions even with a smaller footprint on the ground. The operation, they note, demonstrates a shift toward targeted, intelligence-driven interventions rather than sustained military presence.

U.S. defense officials reaffirmed that the fight against terrorism remains a core priority. They emphasized that maintaining pressure on extremist networks is essential to prevent the resurgence of al-Qaeda or other militant groups across Syria and neighboring regions.

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