U.S. Forces killed close associate of ISIS leader in Syrian ground operation

A man believed to have facilitated the New Year’s Eve nightclub attack in Turkey was killed by U.S. special forces according to U.S. Central Command.

U.S. troops killed Abdurakhmon Uzbeki on April 6, according to Col. John Thomas, chief spokesman for US Central Command. Uzbeki was a close associate of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and military officials said that he “was known to interact with him [Baghdadi] in various ways over time.”

Thomas also told reporters that the military had “clearly linked him [Uzbeki] with the Istanbul” attack.

The use of special forces ground units in Syria is rare, but the operation was likely carried out by an expeditionary targeting force that has been tasked with such missions in the past.