Egyptian al-Qaeda cleric killed in strike

A US air strike has reportedly targeted a high-level al-Qaeda member in Syria.

Syria's militant Jabhat Fateh al Sham, formerly the Nusra Front, says Egyptian cleric Abu al Faraj al Masri, a prominent member of the militant group, had been killed in a strike by the US-led coalition.

A statement posted to social media said Sheikh Abu al Faraj al Masri, whose real name is Shekih Ahmad Salamah Mabrouk, a member of the group's religious Shura council, had been killed in a strike in the rebel-held northwestern Syrian province of Idlib.

Jihadist sources had earlier said al-Masri was killed when an unidentified drone hit the vehicle in which he was travelling.

A US defence official confirmed to Reuters a strike had targeted a prominent al-Qaeda member on Monday but said Washington was still assessing its result.


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Source: AAP



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