WASHINGTON
The leader of a militant group linked to al-Qaeda has been killed, the Pentagon confirmed Tuesday.
Muhsin al-Fadhli, allegedly a "longtime al-Qaeda operative," was killed July 8 in a military strike while traveling in a vehicle near Sarmada, Syria, according to Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis.
"Al-Fadhli was the leader of a network of veteran al-Qaeda operatives, sometimes called the Khorasan Group, who are plotting external attacks against the United States and our allies," Davis said.
He was one of a few al-Qaeda leaders who received advanced notice of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, David said, and his death is expected to "degrade and disrupt” al-Qaeda’s plans against the U.S, its allies and partners.
The U.S. believes Khorasan is a network of al-Nusra Front and al-Qaeda core extremists who have moved into Syria and have planned attacks in the U.S. and Europe.