Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook on Strike against al-Qaida Leader
U.S. forces conducted an airstrike today near Idlib, Syria, targeting Egyptian national Abu al-Farai al-Masri, aka Ahmad Salamah Mabruk, one of al-Qaida in Syria's most senior leaders and a legacy al-Qaida terrorist who previously had ties to Osama bin Laden. We are still assessing the results of the strike.
His death, if confirmed, would disrupt and degrade coordination among senior AQ leaders and extremists. The United States military will continue to target al-Qaida leaders to disrupt their operations and counter the threat posed by this terrorist group.