US names Al-Qaeda commander killed in Syria

This photo taken on September 20, 2021 shows the remains of a vehicle reportedly destroyed by a drone strike on the northeastern outskirts of Syria's rebel-held city of Idlib. (AFP)

This photo taken on September 20, 2021 shows the remains of a vehicle reportedly destroyed by a drone strike, on the northeastern outskirts of Syria's rebel-held city of Idlib. (AFP)

• The drone strike targeted a vehicle on the road from Idlib city to Binnish
• Centcom spokesman John Rigsbee said Salim Abu-Ahmad “was responsible for planning, funding, and approving trans-regional Al-Qaeda attacks”

WASHINGTON: The US military on Friday named the senior Al-Qaeda commander killed in an airstrike in the Idlib region of northwest Syria on September 20 as Salim Abu-Ahmad.
The drone strike targeted a vehicle on the road from Idlib city to Binnish, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which said two extremist commanders died.
US Central Command acknowledged killing an Al-Qaeda official at the time, but did not name him.
In a statement on Friday, Centcom spokesman John Rigsbee said Salim Abu-Ahmad “was responsible for planning, funding, and approving trans-regional Al-Qaeda attacks.”
“There are no indications of civilian casualties as a result of the strike,” the statement added.
The Idlib region is dominated by Syria’s former Al-Qaeda affiliate, but rebels and other militants are also present.
Extremist factions have been the target of Syrian, Russian, US and international coalition strikes in the past.