US strike kills senior al Qaeda leader in Syria

The Hill: A U.S. airstrike in Syria last month killed a senior al Qaeda leader who once had ties to Osama bin Laden, the Pentagon announced Wednesday.

The drone strike against Haydar Kirkan happened Oct. 17 near Idlib province in western Syria, spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters during a briefing.

Kirkan was described as a longtime facilitator and courier who was al Qaeda’s senior external terror attack planner in Syria, Turkey and Europe.

Core al Qaeda leaders having been moving into Syria over the past year, Davis said.

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