SOHR: A drone killed an al-Qaeda leader and wounded civilians
“US forces launched a strike near Idlib on December 3, to target a prominent and planned al-Qaeda element,” said Bill Urban, a spokesman for the US Central Command, “Centcom.”
The spokesman added that the strike carried out by the “MQ9” aircraft was accurate.
However, the US military official said that an initial review of the operation shows the potential for civilian casualties.
“We abhor the loss of innocent lives and are taking all possible measures to prevent this from happening,” he added.
Later, “Centcom” confirmed that an investigation had been opened into civilian casualties in the air strike.
In turn, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed an air strike in Idlib on December 3.
He said that the raid targeted a “former element” of the “Guardians of Religion” organization linked to al-Qaeda, noting that the raid led to the killing of the element, who hails from the town of Ihsem in Jabal al-Zawiya in Idlib.
He added that this element, who left the organization about a year ago, was instantly cut to pieces as a result of being targeted by three missiles, while he was riding a motorcycle on Al Mastouma road in Idlib governorate countryside.
The Syrian Observatory pointed out that a family of 6 members, including women and children, was injured, the moment they passed their car from the site of the attack, they were taken to field hospitals in the area, some of them seriously.
SOURCE: Pledge Times