One person was killed Sunday, September 28, when what is believed to have been a drone strike hit a home in the southern Idlib countryside, according to multiple local and regional outlets.
The strike targeted the residence of Hashim Mohiuddin Raslan in the town of Tamanah, near Khan Sheikhoun. Local sources told Kashaf, a local verification outlet, that Raslan was affiliated with ISIS. The bombing, reportedly carried out by an MQ-9 drone from the US-led international coalition, resulted in Raslan’s immediate death.
According to sources on the ground, the strike caused no additional injuries. A correspondent for Syria TV also confirmed Raslan’s death. While coalition aircraft have frequently targeted Islamic State operatives in northern Syria, the incident demonstrated the continuing presence of suspected militants in Idlib.
Turkish-Syrian Operation Breaks Up Militant Cell
In a separate development the same day, the Turkish Interior Ministry announced that its intelligence services, working with Syria’s Interior Ministry, dismantled a 14-member ISIS cell in Atmah, a town in northern Idlib near the Turkish border.
The cell was accused of killing a Turkish citizen and stealing his car before fleeing across the border. According to a statement from Turkish officials, the coordinated operation left eight militants dead, two wounded and four in custody. Authorities described the raid as part of “continuing joint efforts” to counter threats to both countries’ security.
Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab met with Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya in May to discuss cooperation against terrorist networks, according to earlier official statements. The latest raid marked one of the most significant examples of that collaboration becoming operational.
Continued Pressure on ISIS Networks
Though the ISIS lost its territorial control in Syria and Iraq years ago, remnants of the organization continue to operate in northern Syria through clandestine cells. The international coalition regularly conducts airstrikes against suspected leaders and facilitators, while the Syrian government and regional partners pursue militants through ground operations.
The simultaneous actions in Tamanah and Atmah on Sunday indicate the dual approach: targeted strikes against individuals accused of militant activity, alongside cross-border security coordination aimed at dismantling larger networks.
Officials in both Ankara and Damascus framed the operations as part of an ongoing campaign to prevent the group from regaining influence in Syria’s northwest.
