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U.S. airstrikes against al-Qaida's Khorasan Group followed months of monitoring, say officials

A senior White House official told UPI Tuesday, "We believe the [Khorasan] group is actively recruiting westerners to conduct operations in their home countries."

By JC Finley
U.S. President Barack Obama, pictured on September 19, 2014, authorized airstrikes against the Khorasan Group in Syria. (UPI/Andrew Harrer/Pool)
U.S. President Barack Obama, pictured on September 19, 2014, authorized airstrikes against the Khorasan Group in Syria. (UPI/Andrew Harrer/Pool) | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. military forces undertook a series of airstrikes against the Khorasan Group, comprised of senior al-Qaida veterans, in Syria on Monday.

President Barack Obama informed Congress in a War Powers notification letter on Tuesday that "The strikes are necessary to defend the United States and our partners and allies against the threat posed by these elements."

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According to a senior White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the president issued the additional order to strike the group based on intelligence assessments that the group was planning an imminent attack.

"These senior Syria-based operatives were nearing the execution phase in Europe or the homeland."

The Intelligence Community, she said, observed these senior al-Qaida members, who gained experience in Afghanistan and Pakistan, "move to Syria to bring their skill set to exploit the conflict and find safe haven."

"We believe the group is actively recruiting westerners to conduct operations in their home countries," the administration official added. "They've been doing so with the support of al-Qaida and al-Qaida affiliate al-Nusrah Front."

Another unnamed senior White House official, speaking on background, acknowledged that the senior al-Qaida veterans who comprise the Khorasan Group are the "same cast of characters we've had our eyes on for many years," adding "This is not a new group."

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Meanwhile, the Pentagon said Tuesday it is "still assessing the results" of Monday's airstrikes, which also targeted the Islamic State inside Syria.

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