US military strikes al-Qaeda facility in Syria

The US strike removed an al-Qaeda facility in the region which was being used to threaten US citizens, country's partners, and innocent civilians. The strike aimed to degrade al-Qaeda's ability to conduct future attacks and destabilize the region.

Washington: The US military said on Saturday that it carried out an attack against al-Qaeda leaders in the rebel-held Idlib province in northwest Syria.

"US forces conducted a strike against al-Qaeda in Syria (AQ-S) leadership at a facility north of Idlib, Syria," a statement carried out by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said, adding that the targetted leaders were responsible for attacks which threatened US citizens, country's partners, and innocent civilians.

"The removal of the facility will further degrade [al-Qaeda's] ability to conduct future attacks and destabilize the region," the statement added.

A war monitor had earlier reported that the US-led coalition had launched a missile attack against the headquarters of Hurras ad-Din, Ansar al-Tawhid and other allied groups of the al-Qaeda, claiming the lives of 40 people.

As per the media reports, the Idlib region is home to some three million people, nearly half of whom have been displaced from other parts of Syria. Most of the areas in the province and parts of neighbouring Aleppo and Latakia provinces are controlled by the Hurras ad-Din.