The US Central Command said on Sunday it killed Islamic State (ISIS) leader Usama al-Muhajir in a drone strike in Eastern Syria.

It used the same MQ-9 drones in the attack that had “earlier in the day been harassed by Russian aircraft in an encounter that had lasted almost two hours”, it said in a statement.

“US Central Command conducted a strike in Syria that resulted in the death of Usamah al-Muhajir, an ISIS leader in eastern Syria,” it further said without giving any more details on al-Muhajir.

“We have made it clear that we remain committed to the defeat of ISIS throughout the region,” Gen Erik Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, said.