Al Qaeda's North African branch has confirmed the death of a prominent leader of the network's Syrian affiliate, Abu Firas al-Suri, in a U.S. air strike in Syria on Sunday.
Abu Firas al-Suri, a prominent leader of Nusra Front, in this still image taken from video.
BEIRUT: Al Qaeda's North African branch has confirmed the
death of a prominent leader of the network's Syrian affiliate, Abu Firas
al-Suri, in a U.S. air strike in Syria on Sunday.
A statement by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb's (AQIM)
media wing posted online late on Tuesday paid tribute to Abu Firas and
said a U.S. air raid killed him. The statement, dated April 4, appeared
to be the first public confirmation by al Qaeda.
U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday the United States
carried out an air strike that killed Abu Firas. He was a senior member
of al Qaeda's Syrian affiliate the Nusra Front's policy-making Shura
Council.
A Pentagon spokesman said a U.S. air strike on Sunday hit a
meeting of high-level al Qaeda officials in northwest Syria at which Abu
Firas was present, and said the United States was still confirming
whether Abu Firas had been killed.
(Reporting by John Davison and Ali Abdelatti in Cairo; Editing by Sandra Maler)
- Reuters
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