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US military eliminates one of Al-Qaeda leaders in northwest Syria

The strike was delivered with the use of a drone

WASHINGTON, October 23. /TASS/. The US military eliminated one of the Al-Qaeda (outlawed in Russia) leaders in an air strike in the northwest of Syria, the US Central Command said in a statement.

"A US airstrike today in northwest Syria killed senior al-Qaeda leader Abdul Hamid al-Matar," the statement said adding that the strike was delivered with the use of a drone.

"We have no indications of civilian casualties as a result of the strike, which was conducted using an MQ-9 aircraft," according to the statement.

"Al-Qaeda continues to present a threat to America and our allies. ... The U.S. will continue to target members of al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations who intend to harm the U.S. homeland," the statement added.

US Army Major John Rigsbee was quoted in the statement as saying that "The removal of this Al-Qaeda senior leader will disrupt the terrorist organization's ability to further plot and carry out global attacks threatening U.S. citizens, our partners, and innocent civilians.".

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