BICOM

What happened: US President Joe Biden confirmed yesterday that American commandos raided the hideout of the leader of ISIS, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi in northern Syria.

• US special forces landed in helicopters and attacked a house in the village of Atmeh near the Turkish border.
• During the raid, al-Qurayshi blew himself up with a suicide bomb, killing 13 people including six children and four women, among them his own wife and children.
• Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Defence Minister Benny Gantz both praised the US operation.
• Bennett wrote on twitter: “The world is a safer place now that the leader of ISIS has been eliminated.  I commend our great ally the United States and the brave American soldiers for executing this daring operation. We must continue the global fight against terror — with strength and determination.”
• Gantz, while completing his visit in Bahrain said the operation “broadcasts an important message to the Middle East”.
• In Bahrain, Gantz and Bahraini Defence Minister LTG. Abdullah Bin Hassan Al Nuaimi signed a historic defence MOU to formalise future intelligence, military and industrial collaboration between Israel and the Gulf country.
• Gantz also met H.M. King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa in the royal palace. He was also hosted by His Royal Highness, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and BDF Commander in Chief, H.E. Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.
• Gantz also visited the Fifth Fleet HQ in Bahrain where he was hosted by US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), US 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Commander, Vice Admiral Brad Cooper.

Context: Al-Qurayshi was the second leader of ISIS, after he replaced Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who was killed in a similar operation in northwest Syria in October 2019.

• Before becoming leader, al-Qurayshi had been the ISIS commander with responsibility for attacking Israel.
• A Channel 13 News report suggested that Israel had assisted in the intelligence, monitoring the movements of al-Qurayshi. An anonymous source is quoted saying: “Without the information on his location, there is obviously no possibility for such an operation to take place.”
• According to Kan Radio News the US notified Israel of the operation ahead of time.
• In an interview in Maariv last weekend, former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot related to the IDF’s “unknown war against ISIS”. Eisenkot told the paper: “We killed hundreds of their operatives and struck a very major blow against them.”
• It was also revealed in Haaretz last week that for the last seven-year RAF fighter jets have been flying over Israeli airspace from Cyprus to conduct bombing raids against ISIS targets in Syria and Iraq on a daily basis.
• As part of the Abraham Accords, the US reassigned military coordination with Israel to CENTCOM, allowing Israel to upgrade military cooperation with regional partners and participate in military exercises with other US allies.
• While visiting the Fifth Fleet,  Gantz said: “Thanks in part to the Abraham Accords and to Israel’s move to CENTCOM, cooperation between the IDF and the Fifth Fleet has expanded. This strategic cooperation is critical in facing developing challenges in the region. Deepening cooperation will enable us to maintain regional stability and to defend the common interests of Israel, the US and Bahrain.”
• This is the second time Israel has a signed a military MOU since the Abraham Accords, the first being with Morocco in November 2021.

Looking ahead: It is not clear yet clear how the death of al-Qurayshi will affect ISIS in the future and who will take over.

• Despite losing control of most of its declared “caliphate”, the Israeli assessment is that ISIS remains a threat, in parts of Syria, Iraq and north Africa, with the capacity to carry out attacks.
• For the first time the Israel Navy is participating in the US-led ‘IMX’ International Naval Exercise. Israel will be joined alongside countries it does not have formal diplomatic relations, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.