Free Republic

A senior Al-Qaeda leader was killed in a US drone strike in Syria, the Pentagon said Friday, according to AFP. The strike came two days after a base in southern Syria, used by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group, was assaulted. "A US air strike today in northwest Syria killed senior Al-Qaeda leader Abdul Hamid al-Matar," said Central Command spokesman Army Major John Rigsbee in a statement. There were no other known casualties from the strike, he said, adding it was conducted using an MQ-9 aircraft. ......

A U.S. airstrike in northwest Syria has killed a senior al-Qaeda leader on Friday, the U.S. Central Command announced in a release.U.S. Army Maj. John Rigsbee, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said Abdul Hamid al-Matar was killed in the vicinity of Suluk in northwest Syria.The strike was conducted using an MQ-9 aircraft—an armed, remotely piloted aircraft.There are “no indications of civilian casualties as a result of the strike.”“Al-Qaeda continues to present a threat to America and our allies. Al-Qaeda uses Syria as a safe haven to rebuild, coordinate with external affiliates, and plan external operations. Al-Qaeda also uses Syria as a base...