Senior IS leader Abd-al-Hadi Mahmud killed in Syria

A U.S.

helicopter raid in northern Syria killed a senior Islamic State leader in charge of planning attacks in the Middle East and Europe.

Washington disclosed this on Monday, saying that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces killed AbdalHadi Mahmud alHaji Ali and two other operatives of the extremist militia organisation Islamic State, also known as ISIS, in a morning raid.

The man was a senior Islamic State leader and operational planner responsible for planning terror attacks in the Middle East and Europe, according to CENTCOM, who added that he was the operations target.

According to the US military, the raid was launched after intelligence revealed an Islamic State plot to kidnap officials abroad and use them as leverage for the terror groups initiatives.

We know ISIS retains the desire to strike beyond the Middle East, CENTCOM spokesperson Colonel Joe Buccino said.

This raid deals a significant blow to ISIS operations in the region but does not eliminate ISIS capability to conduct operations, Buccino added.