U.S. Central Command forces killed a Syria-based ISIS official during an airstrike in the northern part of Syria on Tuesday, according to officials. The strike was announced on X by CENTCOM on Thursday.
On June 10, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria killing Rakhim Boev, a Syria-based ISIS
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 12, 2025
official who was involved in planning external operations threatening U.S. citizens, our partners, and civilians.
This airstrike is part… pic.twitter.com/xee9z1zedL
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is continuing an ongoing progression of counterterrorism operations in Syria to preclude the return of ISIS and other violent extremist organizations. In mid-2025, there are about 1,500 to 2,000 U.S. forces in eastern and southern Syria, primarily alongside local partners such as the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), frontline fighters for more than a decade against ISIS and currently guarding thousands of ISIS detainees.
What threat did Rakhim Boev pose to Americans?
Rakhim Boev, an ISIS leader located in Syria who was involved in organizing external activities that threatened American citizens and civilians, was killed by a precision airstrike carried out by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces in Northwest Syria on June 10. Airstrike was a component of CENTCOM’s continued commitment, in collaboration with regional partners, to thwart and undermine terrorists’ attempts to organize, plan, and carry out operations against American personnel and allies.
Why is the US still involved in Syria?
President Donald Trump declared last month that he would waive decades-old sanctions against Syria in order to improve U.S. ties with the country. Trump’s previous stance, which said in December that “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT,” was abruptly changed by the action.
In addition to marking the end of a decades-long oppressive regime, the December fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime after it was overthrown by a former al-Qaeda affiliate, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), also effectively destroyed years of Iranian investment in a significant blow to its regional influence.
In order to persuade Syria to reestablish diplomatic relations with Israel, Trump underlined that the EU order to relieve sanctions was a follow-up to the sanctions relief, which he said would give the nation a chance to recover.
HTS, which is still classified as a terrorist organization by the United States and the United Nations, is led by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Despite its aggressive military operations in the Gaza Strip, several Middle Eastern countries have vehemently rejected this push for diplomatic relations with Jerusalem. Trump also underlined that the emergence of Islamic extremist organizations must be curbed by the future Syrian government.
Due to ongoing strife between various minority groups, former government supporters, and terrorist groups like ISIS, Syria is not a cohesive nation. Last month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio similarly cautioned Congress that a “potential collapse and a full-scale civil war of epic proportions” might occur in Syria in only “weeks.” The new Syrian administration is seriously vulnerable as a result of these rifts.
