In a clear-cut victory against terrorism, U.S. military officials confirmed on June 19 that an airstrike in Syria took out a high-ranking ISIS leader over the past weekend. This news is refreshing from the usual nonsense we hear about bureaucratic incompetence.
CENTCOM proudly announced that Usamah Jamal Muhammad Ibrahim al-Janabi, a senior ISIS official and facilitator, was terminated in the strike. With this operation, ISIS’s ability to plan and execute terror attacks has taken a significant hit. Thankfully, no civilians were harmed—something CENTCOM emphasized in their statement.
This decisive action shows that the U.S., along with its allies and regional partners, remains committed to degrading ISIS’s operational capabilities and ensuring its ultimate defeat. It’s about time we see such determined action.
Since the Syrian civil war ignited in the early 2010s, the U.S. has persistently targeted ISIS leaders. Remember Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi? The infamous leader and founder of ISIS killed himself during a U.S. special forces raid in October 2019. His successor, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, also chose suicide over capture during a U.S. raid in February 2022. These actions serve as reminders of the relentless pursuit of these terrorists.
The fight against ISIS isn’t confined to Syria. Just last month, AFRICOM reported an airstrike in Somalia that eliminated three ISIS terrorists without civilian casualties. Such strikes are critical as current and former U.S. officials warn of ISIS’s resurgence, especially its Afghanistan-based branch, ISIS-K. This group was behind a brutal attack in Moscow earlier this year that claimed at least 140 lives.
House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) recently sounded the alarm about the heightened risk of terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. He pointed out that the lax security at our southern border could potentially allow ISIS-aligned terrorists to slip into the country. Turner’s warning comes in the wake of reports about illegal immigrants with ISIS-K ties being apprehended this month.
Adding to the concern, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has called for a classified briefing for all senators on ISIS threats, highlighting the growing urgency of the situation. FBI Director Christopher Wray has echoed these concerns, stating that his career’s current threat level is unprecedented. He pointed to the October 2023 Hamas attack in Israel and the Moscow attack as indicators of the escalating danger.
Wray also raised alarms about human smuggling operations along the U.S.–Mexico border, stressing that Mexico needs to step up its efforts. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed the heightened threat level, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Meanwhile, German officials are bracing for possible ISIS attacks as they host Euro 2024 soccer matches. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has warned that jihadist organizations, particularly ISIS and ISIS-K, have Europe in their crosshairs.
It’s high time we acknowledge these threats and take decisive action. The recent airstrike in Syria is a step in the right direction. Still, we must remain vigilant and proactive to ensure the safety and security of our nation and allies.
