In a decisive blow to the remnants of the Islamic State group, U.S. forces killed Omar Abdul-Qader, a top ISIS external operations planner, during a raid in central Syria on September 19, 2025. The operation, conducted with the support of Iraq’s counterterrorism agency, specifically targeted Abdul-Qader—also known by his nom de guerre Abdul-Rahman al-Halabi—who was described as the mastermind behind plots to attack both Europe and the United States.
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Abdul-Qader posed a direct threat to the U.S. homeland and its partners abroad. His elimination, officials say, represents a significant disruption to ISIS’s ability to orchestrate attacks against Americans and U.S. allies. "We will not yield in our pursuit of terrorists seeking to attack the United States, our forces, or allies and partners abroad. I commend the efforts of our skilled warfighters and all who supported them during the mission," Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, stated on September 19, 2025.
Abdul-Qader’s role within ISIS extended far beyond that of a typical militant. Iraq’s counterterrorism agency identified him as the head of IS foreign operations, responsible for planning attacks outside the Middle East, including the United States and Europe. His notoriety was further cemented by his involvement in the 2013 bombing of the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, which killed more than 20 people, including the Iranian cultural attaché. The agency’s assistance in locating Abdul-Qader proved crucial to the success of the operation, highlighting the ongoing collaboration between U.S. and Iraqi security forces.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a respected war monitor, reported that Abdul-Qader was killed in a U.S.-led coalition raid in Syria’s central Hama province. The Observatory’s chief, Rami Abdurrahman, provided additional context, noting that Abdul-Qader, a Syrian citizen, had previously been detained in Lebanon. He was later handed over to Damascus authorities during Bashar Assad’s rule. After Assad’s fall in December 2024—a seismic shift in the region’s political landscape—Abdul-Qader managed to escape custody and remained on the run until his death. None of his planned attacks in Europe or the United States had materialized, but officials emphasized that his operational capabilities and intent made him a persistent and dangerous threat.
This latest operation follows a series of targeted raids against ISIS leadership in Syria. On July 25, 2025, U.S. Central Command reported that American troops had carried out a raid in Syria’s Aleppo Governorate, eliminating senior ISIS leader Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani and his two adult sons, Abdalla Ziya al-Hardani and Abdu ar-Rahman Ziya Zauba al-Hardani. These actions, CENTCOM asserts, are part of a broader campaign to degrade ISIS’s ability to regroup and launch new attacks.
Despite the territorial defeat of ISIS in Iraq in 2017 and Syria in 2019, sleeper cells remain active across the region. The group, which once controlled vast swaths of territory and declared a self-styled caliphate in 2014, has been reduced to clandestine operations and sporadic acts of violence. However, as the killing of Abdul-Qader demonstrates, U.S. and coalition forces remain vigilant, targeting individuals who continue to plot attacks on a global scale.
The operation that led to Abdul-Qader’s death was marked by meticulous intelligence work and cross-border cooperation. Iraq’s counterterrorism agency played a pivotal role, providing critical information that enabled coalition forces to locate and neutralize the militant. This partnership underscores the enduring importance of regional alliances in the fight against transnational terrorism.
Admiral Brad Cooper, in his remarks following the raid, reiterated the United States’ unwavering commitment to counterterrorism. "We will not relent in pursuing terrorists who seek to attack the United States, our forces, or our allies and partners abroad," he said. The message was clear: the U.S. remains determined to prevent ISIS and similar groups from regaining the organizational capacity to threaten global security.
Abdul-Qader’s trajectory within ISIS offers a window into the group’s evolving strategies and persistent ambitions. His involvement in the 2013 Beirut embassy bombing signaled a willingness to strike high-profile targets and inflict mass casualties. After years in detention, his escape following Assad’s ouster and subsequent efforts to plan attacks in the West illustrate the adaptability of ISIS operatives and the ongoing challenges facing counterterrorism agencies.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights’ account adds further intrigue to Abdul-Qader’s story. His movement from Lebanese custody to Syrian detention, and eventual escape, highlights the complex and often chaotic nature of the region’s security environment—especially in the aftermath of regime change. The Observatory’s reporting, corroborated by coalition statements, paints a picture of a man who eluded capture for months, only to be brought down by a coordinated international effort.
While the immediate threat posed by Abdul-Qader has been neutralized, experts caution that the broader fight against ISIS is far from over. The organization’s decentralized structure allows it to endure setbacks and regenerate leadership. Sleeper cells continue to operate in both Iraq and Syria, occasionally launching attacks against local forces and civilians. The killing of high-ranking leaders, while significant, does not eliminate the underlying conditions that give rise to extremism.
The coalition’s recent successes in targeting ISIS leadership have been welcomed by both regional governments and international observers. However, they also serve as a reminder of the ongoing instability in Syria, where multiple armed groups vie for power and influence. The fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in December 2024 has created new uncertainties, with former detainees like Abdul-Qader exploiting the resulting chaos to evade justice and resume militant activities.
For the United States and its partners, the mission remains clear: to prevent ISIS from reconstituting itself as a global threat. This requires not only military action but also sustained intelligence sharing, diplomatic engagement, and support for local security forces. As Admiral Cooper emphasized, the U.S. will continue to pursue those who seek to do harm, wherever they may hide.
Though ISIS’s territorial ambitions have been thwarted, the group’s ideology and networks persist. The death of Omar Abdul-Qader marks a significant victory in the ongoing campaign against terrorism, but it also underscores the need for continued vigilance. For now, coalition forces can claim a hard-won success, knowing that the fight to secure lasting peace and stability in the region is far from finished.