Highest Ranking Leader Of Al-Qaeda Operatives Sanafi Al-Nasr Is Killed By A Coalition Airstrike In Northwest Syria, Confirms The Pentagon
On Sunday, the Pentagon confirmed the death of the highest ranking leader of the al-Qaeda operatives (a.k.a. Khorasan Group), Sanafi al-Nasr, during a U.S.-led coalition airstrike in northwest Syria on Thursday, reported USA Today Oct. 18.
Al-Nasr, born Abdul Mohsen Adballah Ibrahim al Charekh, was a jihadist and has been named "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" in August 2014 by the Treasury Department. He has long been supplying money and fighters for al-Qaeda, transferring funds from Gulf region donors to Iraq, then to Pakistan and Syrian al-Qaeda leaders.
"The United States will not relent in its mission to degrade, disrupt and destroy al-Qaeda and it's remnants," said U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter. "This operation deals a significant blow to the Khorasan Group's plans to attack the United States and our allies, and once again proves that those who seek to do us harm are not beyond our reach."
According to CNN Oct. 19, their terrorism analyst Paul Cruickshank deem al-Nasr's death as a "significant blow to al-Qaeda," being the group's senior leader in Syria.
"He was a highly influential strategist and prolific online propagandist," noted Cruickshank, "and previously played key operational roles for the terrorist organization in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region and Iran, including a stint in 2012 as al Qaeda's chief financial officer."
"He is believed to have worked to ensure the group remained within al Qaeda's orbit and is also believed to have worked closely with deceased Khorasan Group leader Muhsin al Fadhli," Cruickshank added.
A U.S. official who wished to remain anonymous claimed that al-Nasr was killed by an American drone, noted CBS News Oct. 19.
Al-Nasr started as a webmaster for al-Qaeda until he moved to the Afghanistan-Pakistan region in 2007 where he eventually became the head of the terror group's "Victory Committee," tasked to organize and carry out strategies and policies for al-Qaeda.
He was reportedly sent to Syria in 2013 to handle the group's core finances and facilitate franchise operations for the group called the al-Nusra Front.
