Russia says its airstrikes wounded al-Qaida leader in Syria
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Russia's military says it has carried out airstrikes in Syria that critically wounded the leader of an al-Qaida-linked group and killed 12 other militant commanders.
Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, said in a statement on Wednesday that the airstrikes wounded Abu Mohammed al-Golani, leader of the al-Qaida-linked Levant Liberation Committee.
He says the strikes took place on Tuesday at an undisclosed location in Syria.
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Konashenkov says 50 other militants who were securing the gathering were also killed.
There was no immediate comment from the militant group.
Moscow has blamed the al-Qaida-linked group for attacking Russian military police in Syria's western Hama province last week.