Al Qaeda's North African branch has confirmed the death of a prominent leader of the network's Syrian affiliate, Abu Firas al-Suri, in a U.S. air strike in Syria on Sunday.
A statement by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb's (AQIM) media wing posted online late on Tuesday paid tribute to Abu Firas and said a U.S. air raid killed him. The statement, dated April 4, appeared to be the first public confirmation by al Qaeda.