A high-ranking Isis leader, Usamah al-Muhajir, was killed in Syria by a US drone strike on Friday, according to the Pentagon, despite Russian military interference. The successful strike occurred hours after Russian jets had reportedly harassed US drones.
Key points:
- The Isis leader was targeted by a group of Reaper aircraft, which destroyed a motorcycle he was riding in the Aleppo region of Syria.
- The US military confirmed the operation, demonstrating its commitment to defeating ISIS in the region and globally.
- No civilian casualties were reported during the operation, but the coalition is assessing reports of civilian injury.
- Russian fighter jets reportedly harassed the US Reaper drones just hours before the strike in an almost two-hour encounter.
- This interference is part of a series of recent incidents involving Russian aircraft and Nato forces over Syria, with the US and French military expressing concerns over Russian jets’ “unsafe” and “non-professional” conduct.
