Prominent al-Qaida figure killed in US drone strike in Syria

Published April 08, 2016

This image made from video published online by Amaq News Agency of the Islamic State group shows a cement factory where in a brazen assault near the Syrian capital, Islamic State militants snatched up to 300 cement workers and contractors from their workplace northeast of Damascus Thursday, April 7, 2016. (militant video via AP) (The Associated Press)

Syrian monitors and a relative of a senior Egyptian al-Qaida figure fighting in Syria say he was killed in a U.S. drone strike there this week.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says Rifai Ahmad Taha was killed in a strike Tuesday in Idlib province.

Taha was part of an extremist group that massacred 58 foreign tourists in the ancient Egyptian city of Luxor in 1997. He was also allied with Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan.

In Egypt, a relative said Friday that Taha's wife and brother have received confirmation about his death. The relative spoke on condition of anonymity fearing reprisals.

In Washington, Department of Defense spokesman Matthew Allen said the U.S. struck a vehicle killing several al-Qaida militants. He added that officials are still assessing the strike.

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