US air strike in Syria kills al-Qaeda leader
A leader in the Guardians of Religion Organization, which is linked to Al-Qaeda, was killed on Monday night in a US strike in Idlib province in northwestern Syria.
The Central Command of the US Army "Centcom" announced in a statement that "Aba Hamza al-Yamani was traveling alone on a motorcycle during the strike," stressing that the first indications showed that no civilians were injured.
"The elimination of this prominent leader will impede al-Qaeda's ability to launch attacks against American citizens, against our partners, and against innocent civilians around the world," she added.
CNN quoted an official familiar with the operation as saying that the United States was "extremely confident" that the drone strike killed Abu Hamza al-Yamani.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which includes a wide network of activists on the ground, confirmed the killing of the Yemeni in the American operation that targeted him before midnight on the road linking the city of Idlib and the town of Qaminas (southeast of Idlib).
The observatory indicated that it is the second time that the Yemeni has been targeted, as he had survived a similar strike last year.
An AFP correspondent at the scene said that members of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham, which controls the area, quickly deployed to the area after the strike and removed the charred body of the Yemeni.
The American forces are pursuing leaders of the "ISIS" organization in hideouts in several areas in eastern, north and west Syria, including Idlib and its environs, especially after the defeat of the organization three years ago.
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