Pentagon says air strike killed 'senior al Qaeda leader' in Syria

'Abu Afghan Al-Masri had ties to terrorist groups operating throughout Southwest Asia'

WASHINGTON: An air strike carried out by the United States last week killed Abu Afghan Al-Masri, a "senior al Qaeda leader," near Sarmada, Syria, on Nov 18, Pentagon spokesperson Peter Cook said on Tuesday.

Cook, speaking during a press briefing, told reporters that Al-Masri, an Egyptian, originally joined al Qaeda in Afghanistan and later moved to its Syrian affiliate.



"He had ties to terrorist groups operating throughout Southwest Asia including groups responsible for attacking US and coalition forces in Afghanistan and those plotting to attack the West," Cook said.