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US confirms airstrike in Syria killed al-Qaida commander

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AP Tel Aviv
The US military is confirming that an airstrike in Syria by the US-led coalition has killed a top al-Qaida commander.

The Pentagon says a Saudi national known as Sanafi al-Nasr was "a longtime jihadist experienced in funneling money and fighters" for the terrorist network.

A statement from the US Defense Department says coalition forces conducted the airstrike on Thursday over northwest Syria.

The US says he was a leading figure in the Khorasan group, a secretive cell of al-Qaida operatives who US officials say were sent from Pakistan to Syria to plot attacks against the West.

US Defense Secretary Ash Carter says the military operation "deals a significant operation" to the Khorasan group's plans to attack the US and its allies.

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First Published: Oct 18 2015 | 7:13 PM IST

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