Home World News US walks back claim it killed major al Qaeda leader in drone strike

US walks back claim it killed major al Qaeda leader in drone strike

0
US walks back claim it killed major al Qaeda leader in drone strike

U.S. military officials are walking back a claim that a senior al Qaeda leader was killed in a recent drone strike in Syria, a senior U.S. defense official confirmed to Fox News.

The story was first reported by the Washington Post.

The family of 56-year-old Lotfi Hassan Misto identified him as the person killed by the American missile on May 3, according to the Post.

U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, oversaw the operation and released a statement on the day of the strike saying it conducted a strike “targeting a senior Al Qaeda leader.” 

PAKISTANI OFFICER ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AT GIRLS’ SCHOOL BUS, KILLING 8-YEAR-OLD

Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Drone

An MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) flies by during a training mission.  (Isaac Brekken/Getty Images)

No other details were provided and the identify of the person killed was not revealed. 

US AIR DEFENSES DOWN DURING SUSPECTED IRANIAN DRONE STRIKE IN SYRIA THAT KILLED ONE AMERICAN

Misto’s family claims he had no ties to terrorist organizations and was tending to his sheep when he was killed.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Misto’s family told the Post he was a father of 10 who lived quietly in a town in northwest Syria and spent much of his life in poverty. 

Source link

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here