The United States announced Friday that a senior al-Qaida leader was killed in a drone strike in Syria.
Spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command, Army Maj. John Rigsbee, said in a statement, “A U.S. airstrike today in northwest Syria killed senior al-Qaeda leader Abdul Hamid al-Matar”. “We have no indications of civilian casualties as a result of the strike, which was conducted using an MQ-9 aircraft,” the statement reported.
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 for threats reaching into Syria, Iraq and beyond.
Army Maj. John Rigsbee
Rigsbee stated, “The removal of this al-Qaeda senior leader will disrupt the terrorist organization’s ability to further plot and carry out global attacks threatening U.S. citizens, our partners, and innocent civilians”.
Earlier in the week, the Pentagon released a statement reporting a ‘deliberate and coordinated attack” on American forces in Syria. The attack targeted the Tanf base, where approximately 200 Americans are stationed, but no one was harmed.
it is unclear who may have been behind the attack Wednesday and U.S. Central Command did not indicate Friday if this attack had been a retaliation.