Thu Dec 25 12:32:16 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

Syrian authorities, in collaboration with the U.S.-led coalition, have killed a senior Islamic State (IS) leader, Mohammad Shahada (Abu Omar Shaddad), in a “precise security operation.” This comes hours after the capture of another IS leader, Taha al-Zoubi (Abu Omar Tabiya), near Damascus. The operations are seen as a result of increased cooperation following Syria’s recent joining of the U.S.-led coalition against IS in November. The action follows a recent IS attack that killed two U.S. soldiers and an American civilian, prompting retaliatory strikes by U.S. forces.

News Article:

Syria, U.S. Coalition Kill Senior ISIS Leader in Joint Operation

Damascus, Syria – December 25, 2025 – Syrian authorities announced today that they have neutralized a high-ranking leader of the Islamic State group (IS), Mohammad Shahada, also known as Abu Omar Shaddad. The operation was conducted in coordination with the U.S.-led international coalition, marking a significant step in the fight against the extremist group.

According to a statement from the Syrian Interior Ministry, the “precise security operation” targeted Shaddad, described as a prominent IS leader in Syria. The ministry emphasized the effectiveness of the collaboration between Syrian security agencies and international partners.

The announcement comes just hours after the capture of another IS leader, Taha al-Zoubi (Abu Omar Tabiya), and several of his men, near Damascus on Wednesday. These successes come amid heightened efforts to combat IS following a December 13 attack in Palmyra that claimed the lives of two U.S. soldiers and an American civilian. Washington blamed that attack on a lone IS gunman, and U.S. forces subsequently carried out strikes targeting IS positions in Syria.

Syria officially joined the U.S.-led coalition against IS in November during a visit by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Washington. Al-Sharaa, a former jihadist whose group previously fought IS during the Syrian civil war, has pledged to intensify efforts to eradicate the terrorist organization from Syrian territory.

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