In a rare display of cooperation, U.S.-led coalition forces and the Syrian army launched a joint airborne operation in the northern Idlib town of Atmeh, targeting Abu Hafs al-Quraishi, a senior figure in the Islamic State group. Although no official confirmation has been issued, local sources say al-Quraishi was central to ISIS’s recruitment networks and the facilitation of its activities inside Syria. Reports also suggest several French women linked to the group were with him at the time of the raid.

The raid began around 2 a.m., with coalition helicopters circling above Atmeh and ground units encircling residential neighborhoods. Light exchanges of gunfire were heard, though witnesses said the operation ended swiftly without prolonged clashes. The mission was described by locals as highly coordinated, involving both international coalition assets and Syrian government troops.

Target: Abu Hafs al-Quraishi

Abu Hafs al-Quraishi has long been identified as a key ISIS operative in Syria, allegedly responsible for:

• Providing human resources by recruiting and moving fighters into ISIS ranks.
• Facilitating logistics for ISIS operations, including safehouses, financing, and communications.
• Maintaining links with foreign ISIS members, including French women who were reportedly present with him in Atmeh.

His elimination or capture would mark one of the most significant blows to ISIS’s organizational network in Syria this year.

Ongoing Counter-ISIS Campaign

The raid follows a July operation in al-Bab, Aleppo province, in which U.S. forces killed Mosahel al-Hardani and his sons, accused of aiding ISIS. These missions underscore Washington’s assessment that ISIS continues to pose a global threat despite losing its territorial caliphate. The Atmeh raid also highlights an unusual episode of direct coordination between U.S. and Syrian government forces, raising questions about shifting dynamics in counterterrorism cooperation.

While official confirmation is still pending, the operation in Atmeh demonstrates the persistence of joint counter-ISIS efforts and the significance of al-Quraishi’s role in sustaining the group’s networks. If verified, his removal would represent a tactical victory against ISIS, though analysts caution that the group’s resilient underground structures mean the broader fight in Syria is far from over.