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Syria conflict: Militant leader 'killed in air strike' | Syria conflict: Militant leader 'killed in air strike' |
(35 minutes later) | |
A senior leader in a Syrian militant group that split this year from al-Qaeda has reportedly been killed in an air strike in north-western Syria. | A senior leader in a Syrian militant group that split this year from al-Qaeda has reportedly been killed in an air strike in north-western Syria. |
Abu al-Faraj al-Masri died in Idlib province, according to the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham group, which was known as the Nusra Front when linked to al-Qaeda. | |
The Egyptian national and veteran al-Qaeda cleric was a member of the group's consultative Shura Council. | The Egyptian national and veteran al-Qaeda cleric was a member of the group's consultative Shura Council. |
The Pentagon confirmed it had "targeted a prominent al-Qaeda member in Syria". | The Pentagon confirmed it had "targeted a prominent al-Qaeda member in Syria". |
"We are assessing the results of the operation at this time," Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said. | |
He provided no further details. | |
Who are Jabhat Fateh al-Sham? | Who are Jabhat Fateh al-Sham? |
Reports suggest that al-Masri was killed when the vehicle he was travelling in was hit near the Turkish border. | |
Jabhat Fateh al-Sham is one of the most powerful jihadist rebel groups fighting the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria. | |
It broke from al-Qaeda in late July, changing its name from the Nusra Front. | It broke from al-Qaeda in late July, changing its name from the Nusra Front. |
Al-Masri, whose real name is Ahmed Salama Mabrouk, appeared alongside leaders in the video announcing the change. | |
Jabhat Fateh al-Sham is considered a terrorist group by the US, as well as by Syria and Russia. | |
Russia has accused the US of sparing the group and failing to separate it from more moderate rebels. | |
Last month, a senior Jabhat Fateh al-Sham commander was killed near the Syrian city of Aleppo, rebel sources reported. |