The U.S. military killed an Islamic State (ISIS) official in a drone strike in northwest Syria, according to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). 

CENTCOM confirmed the strike in a June 12 statement posted on X. “On June 10, U.S. Central Command Forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria killing Rakhim Boev,” the post said.

An image showed a heavily damaged SUV, believed to be the vehicle Boev was in at the time.

On June 10, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria killing Rakhim Boev, a Syria-based ISIS
official who was involved in planning external operations threatening U.S. citizens, our partners, and civilians.

This airstrike is part… pic.twitter.com/xee9z1zedL

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 12, 2025

According to CENTCOM, Boev was involved in planning attacks that threatened Americans, allies, and civilians.

“This airstrike is part of CENTCOM’s ongoing commitment, alongside regional partners, to disrupt and degrade efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against U.S. forces and our allies,” the post reads. 

The strike occurred amid a significant reduction of American troops in Syria, from over 2,000 to around 500, along with the closure of several bases across the country.

Despite the drawdown, CENTCOM and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continue joint operations targeting ISIS. In May, they captured an ISIS operative near Deir ez-Zur.