United States believes it has killed French bombmaker in Syria
US air raids in Syria targeted and probably killed a French bombmaker who was a key figure in an al-Qaeda offshoot accused of plotting attacks on the West, a defence official said.
US air raids in Syria targeted and probably killed a French bombmaker who was a key figure in an al-Qaeda offshoot accused of plotting attacks on the West, a defence official said.
David Drugeon was a Muslim convert suspected of working with al-Qaeda veterans in what Washington calls the Khorasan group, which American officials say is a dangerous militant outfit planning to attack the United States and other Western countries.
US officials have portrayed Drugeon, 24, as a dangerous figure and his suspected death on Wednesday night was touted as a serious setback for the Khorasan group.
"He was among the targets," said a senior US defence official. "We think we got him." But it would take time to confirm his death with absolute certainty, particularly as there are no US troops deployed on Syrian soil, the official added.
A military officer also expressed confidence that Drugeon was probably killed and said the operation represented a success for Washington's counterterrorism efforts.
"This is a big win," said the officer, who asked not to be named.
