The US says it has killed Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Yusif in Syria.

US Central Command Forces (Centcom) said it carried out an airstrike targeting Yusif – who also goes by Mahmud – in the east of the country.

Another IS operative was also killed in the strike, according to US officials.

This strike was conducted in an area formerly controlled by the Syrian regime and Russian forces.

Centcom commander, general Michael Erik Kurilla, said: “As stated before, the United States – working with allies and partners in the region – will not allow ISIS to take advantage of the current situation in Syria and reconstitute.

“IS has the intent to break out of detention the over 8,000 ISIS operatives currently being held in facilities in Syria.

“We will aggressively target these leaders and operatives, including those trying to conduct operations external to Syria.”

Islamic State militants claimed large areas of Syria from 2014 onwards, taking advantage of the civil war in the country to claim land before self-declaring a caliphate in late 2015.

However, they were pushed back by a coalition of forces, losing control of all of their Middle East territory in 2019.

They have continued insurgency efforts in parts of Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, while their affiliates still have a presence in parts of Africa.

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