By — Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/u-s-confirms-airstrike-syria-killed-al-qaida-commander Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter U.S. confirms airstrike in Syria killed Al-Qaida commander Politics Oct 18, 2015 1:02 PM EDT TEL AVIV, Israel — The U.S. military is confirming that an airstrike in Syria by the U.S.-led coalition has killed a top al-Qaida commander. The Pentagon says a Saudi national known as Sanafi al-Nasr was “a longtime jihadist experienced in funneling money and fighters” for the terrorist network. A statement from the U.S. Defense Department says coalition forces conducted the airstrike on Thursday over northwest Syria. The U.S. says he was a leading figure in the Khorasan group – a secretive cell of al-Qaida operatives who U.S. officials say were sent from Pakistan to Syria to plot attacks against the West. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter says the military operation “deals a significant blow” to the Khorasan group’s plans to attack the U.S. and its allies. A U.S. official who was not authorized to discuss the strike publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity said an American drone targeted and struck the militant. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press
TEL AVIV, Israel — The U.S. military is confirming that an airstrike in Syria by the U.S.-led coalition has killed a top al-Qaida commander. The Pentagon says a Saudi national known as Sanafi al-Nasr was “a longtime jihadist experienced in funneling money and fighters” for the terrorist network. A statement from the U.S. Defense Department says coalition forces conducted the airstrike on Thursday over northwest Syria. The U.S. says he was a leading figure in the Khorasan group – a secretive cell of al-Qaida operatives who U.S. officials say were sent from Pakistan to Syria to plot attacks against the West. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter says the military operation “deals a significant blow” to the Khorasan group’s plans to attack the U.S. and its allies. A U.S. official who was not authorized to discuss the strike publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity said an American drone targeted and struck the militant. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now