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U.S. airstrikes target al-Qaeda faction in Syria U.S. airstrikes target al-Qaeda faction in Syria
(about 1 hour later)
BEIRUT – The United States expanded its air campaign in Syria on Thursday as U.S. warplanes targeted an al-Qaeda-linked militant believed to be plotting attacks against Western sites. BEIRUT — The United States expanded its air campaign in Syria on Thursday as U.S. warplanes targeted an al-Qaeda-linked militant group believed to be plotting attacks against Western sites.
The airstrikes also could draw Washington deeper into Syria’s multi-layered conflicts by possibly spilling over into rebel factions seeking to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.The airstrikes also could draw Washington deeper into Syria’s multi-layered conflicts by possibly spilling over into rebel factions seeking to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
But U.S. officials stressed that the airstrikes — by warplanes and drones — sought only to hit a specific extremist faction that Washington calls the Khorasan group, which was believed to be organizing possible attacks against Europe or the United States.But U.S. officials stressed that the airstrikes — by warplanes and drones — sought only to hit a specific extremist faction that Washington calls the Khorasan group, which was believed to be organizing possible attacks against Europe or the United States.
A statement by U.S. Central Command gave no details on the alleged plots, but said five airstrikes destroyed or seriously damaged suspect Khorasan sites including ``meeting and staging areas’’ and facilities to make explosive devices in northwestern Syria. A statement by U.S. Central Command gave no details on the alleged plots but said five airstrikes destroyed or seriously damaged suspected Khorasan sites including “meeting and staging areas” and facilities to make explosive devices in northwestern Syria.
The U.S. account noted the attacks were “not in response” to internal battles among Syrian rebels and did not seek to target “as a whole” an affiliated group with al-Qaeda ties known as Jabhat al-Nusra, or the Nusra Front. The U.S. account noted that the attacks were “not in response” to internal battles among Syrian rebels and did not seek to target “as a whole” an affiliated Syrian group with al-Qaeda ties known as Jabhat al-Nusra, or the Nusra Front.
Khorasan operatives were “taking advantage of the Syrian conflict to advance attacks against Western interests” and further U.S. airstrikes remain an option, the statement said. Khorasan operatives were “taking advantage of the Syrian conflict to advance attacks against Western interests,” and further U.S. airstrikes remain an option, the statement said.
The Central Command emphasis on the limited scope of the airstrikes underscored the delicate politics and strategy at stake amid Syria’s various — and sometimes overlapping -- battles. The Central Command emphasis on the limited scope of the airstrikes underscored the delicate politics and strategy at stake amid Syria’s various — and sometimes overlapping — battles.
A perception that Washington was striking rebel groups — even the al-Qaeda elements — could risk complicating relations between the United States and so-called “moderate” anti-Assad factions, which are seen as possible proxy ground fighters against the Islamic State. A perception that Washington was striking rebel groups — even the al-Qaeda elements — could risk complicating relations between the United States and so-called “moderate” anti-Assad factions, which are seen as possible proxy ground fighters against the radical Islamic State group, an al-Qaeda offshoot also known as ISIS or ISIL.
It was the second time the Khorasan faction had come under American air attacks. In September, U.S. officials claimed at least one Khorasan leader was killed in airstrikes at the beginning of the wider campaign by the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. It was the second time the Khorasan faction had come under American air attacks. In September, U.S. officials claimed that at least one Khorasan leader was killed in airstrikes at the beginning of the wider campaign by a U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
At the time, U.S. officials claimed Khorasan leaders also were plotting attacks against Western targets. At the time, U.S. officials said Khorasan leaders also were plotting attacks against Western targets.
Gen. Lloyd Austin III, who heads Central Command, said that the U.S. military was still assessing the results of the strikes overnight on Khorasan targets in Syria.
He declined to confirm whether a senior member of the group, a French national David Drugeon, known for his bomb-making skills, was killed in the strike.
“He is clearly one of the leadership elements and one of the most dangerous elements in that organization, and so any time that we can take their leadership out it’s a good thing,” Austin said at the Atlantic Council, a Washington think tank.
The latest attacks mark a shift in Syria after weeks of U.S. and allied airstrikes that have mostly targeted Islamic State units and support networks.The latest attacks mark a shift in Syria after weeks of U.S. and allied airstrikes that have mostly targeted Islamic State units and support networks.
Hitting the Khorasan faction appears to reflect relatively pinpoint operations. But the group is believed to be closely affiliated — or embedded — with a much larger network known as the Jabhat al-Nusra, or Nusra Front, an Syrian affiliate of al-Qaeda. Hitting the Khorasan faction appears to reflect relatively pinpoint operations. But the group is believed to be closely affiliated — or embedded — with the much larger Jabhat al-Nusra network.
The Nusra Front has been among the most active groups in the more than three-year uprising to overthrow Assad. It also is a rival to the Islamic State in the competition for territory and influence. Jabhat al-Nusra has been among the most active groups in the more than three-year uprising to overthrow Assad. It also is a rival to the Islamic State in the competition for territory and influence.
Other rebel groups — including those backed by the West — could interpret any significant U.S.-led attacks against the Jubhat al-Nusra as indirect help for Assad’s government. Other rebel groups — including those backed by the West — could interpret any significant U.S.-led attacks against Jabhat al-Nusra as indirect help for Assad’s government.
Thursday’s airstrikes killed an unspecified number of fighters for the untraconservative rebel group Ahrar al-Sham and others linked to the Nusra Front near Syria’s northwestern Bab al-Hawa crossing with Turkey, said Rami Abdulrahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Thursday’s airstrikes killed an unspecified number of fighters for the ultra-conservative rebel group Ahrar al-Sham and others linked to Jabhat al-Nusra near Syria’s northwestern Bab al-Hawa crossing with Turkey, said Rami Abdulrahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Syrian activists on the ground also reported the strikes on the groups, the Associated Press reported.Syrian activists on the ground also reported the strikes on the groups, the Associated Press reported.
The Khorasan group is the name U.S. intelligence uses to refer to dozens of al-Qaeda-affiliated foreign fighters who have moved into Syria over the past two years from Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen and elsewhere in the region.The Khorasan group is the name U.S. intelligence uses to refer to dozens of al-Qaeda-affiliated foreign fighters who have moved into Syria over the past two years from Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen and elsewhere in the region.
Khorasan is a reference from early Islamic texts to a geographic area primarily in western Afghanistan but also including parts of eastern Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The online magazine of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan is called “Vanguards of Khorasan.”Khorasan is a reference from early Islamic texts to a geographic area primarily in western Afghanistan but also including parts of eastern Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The online magazine of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan is called “Vanguards of Khorasan.”
The degree of cooperation and interaction between Khorasan and other hard-line groups is unclear amid the array of factions and breakaway cells in Syria.The degree of cooperation and interaction between Khorasan and other hard-line groups is unclear amid the array of factions and breakaway cells in Syria.
Ahrar al-Sham, which follows an extremely conservative interpretation of Islam, is not believed to have direct ties to al-Qaeda. But it, too, coordinates with the Nusra Front, which has al-Qaeda links. Ahrar al-Sham, which follows an extremely conservative interpretation of Islam, is not believed to have direct ties to al-Qaeda. But it, too, coordinates with Jabhat al-Nusra, which has al-Qaeda links.
Ahrar al-Sham also is part of an alliance of ultraconservative rebel groups seeking to carve out territory ruled by Islamic law. But it also is at odds with the Islamic State in the competition for territory and power. Ahrar al-Sham also is part of an alliance of ultra-conservative rebel groups seeking to carve out territory ruled by Islamic law. But it also is at odds with the Islamic State in the competition for territory and power.
“The coalition attacks appear to have expanded,” Abdulrahman said, adding that one struck the vehicle of a leader of Jabhat al-Nusra.“The coalition attacks appear to have expanded,” Abdulrahman said, adding that one struck the vehicle of a leader of Jabhat al-Nusra.
Last week, the Nusra Front routed less-extreme rebel groups in Syria’s northern Idlib province, inflicting a setback to the Obama administration’s plan to help train and equip the less-radical opposition to the Syrian regime. Last week, Jabhat al-Nusra routed less-extreme rebel groups in Syria’s northern Idlib province, inflicting a setback to the Obama administration’s plan to help train and equip the less-radical opposition to the Syrian regime.
There is concern that Jabhat al-Nusra seeks to control the Bab al-Hawa crossing, a major supply line to Syria’s rebels who have battled Assad’s forces for more than three years.There is concern that Jabhat al-Nusra seeks to control the Bab al-Hawa crossing, a major supply line to Syria’s rebels who have battled Assad’s forces for more than three years.
For weeks, the coalition attacks against the Islamic State appear to have benefitted Jabhat al-Nusra, a group respected by many Syrians for keeping up the fight against Assad’s government. Many view the hard-line groups targeted Thursday as important allies in the fight against Assad. For weeks, the coalition attacks against the Islamic State appear to have benefited Jabhat al-Nusra, a group respected by many Syrians for keeping up the fight against Assad’s government. Many view the hard-line groups targeted Thursday as important allies in the fight against Assad.
The Free Syrian Army, one of the Western-backed rebel groups, was a major recipient of weapons under a CIA-supported program, although it is unclear whether those arms, which include anti-tank missiles, were taken by Jabhat al-Nusra. The Free Syrian Army, one of the Western-backed rebel groups, was a major recipient of weapons under a CIA-supported program, although it is unclear whether those arms, which include antitank missiles, were taken by Jabhat al-Nusra.
Ryan reported from Washington. Daniela Deane in London and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.Ryan reported from Washington. Daniela Deane in London and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.