(Getty)
The leader of the Nusra Front is dead. Abu Yousef al-Turki was killed by US airstrikes in Syria on September 23, according “inside sources.”
Here’s what we know so far:
1. The Air Strikes Targeted Al-Nusra Front
Lt. Gen William Mayville Jr laying out the exact locations of the first US airstrikes in Syria. (Getty)
Al-Turki and his Nusra Front movement were considered key-targets in the strike. According to Reuters, the strikes hit the northern Idlib area.
2. 50 People Were Killed by the Strikes
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The mission had been classed as a huge success by US military top brass. Reuters reports that 50 people in total had been killed in the strikes. Most were not Syrian. Al-Jazeera is reporting that 12 of those killed were Nusra Front fighters.
3. A Picture of al-Turki’s Corpse Was Put on Twitter
Abu Yousef al-Turki 1 of JAN leaders killed in this mornings strikes. Unclear if the #Idlib or #Aleppo strike #Syria pic.twitter.com/8jiui8vqcg
— SyriaConflictMonitor (@SCM_Syria) September 23, 2014
Confirmation of his death first appeared on jihadist Twitter account, the tweet was accompanied with a picture of his corpse.
4. The Nusra Front Killed a Lebanese Soldier Just Days Ago
Bu arada, Nusra'nın meşhur keskin nişancısı Abu Yousef Al Turki'de dün gece #Idlib 'de hava saldırısında öldürülmüş pic.twitter.com/4XgQW9Q08S
— Kgthetweet (@Kgthetweet) September 23, 2014
Al-Jazeera is reporting that al-Turki was regarded as one of the best snipers in the region and was believed to be in the area around Aleppo. Just days before the strikes, the Nusra Front claimed responsibility for killing a Lebanese soldier.
5. The Air Campaign Could Last a Year
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby had earlier told CNN that the total air campaign in the region may last for up to a year. The attacks saw the debut of the F-22 Raptor in combat, watch a video of the jet’s capabilities above.