Al-Qaida bomb-maker David Drugeon reportedly killed by U.S.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- French jihadist David Drugeon, who was a bomb-maker for al-Qaida's Khorasan Group in Syria, has reportedly been killed in a U.S. airstrike.

The airstrike was conducted Wednesday night near the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib, striking a vehicle believed to be transporting Drugeon, a U.S. defense official familiar with the operation told CNN.

U.S. Central Command reported Thursday that "U.S. military forces conducted airstrikes last night against five Khorasan Group targets in the vicinity of Sarmada, Syria, using bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft."

"We are still assessing the outcome of the attack, but have initial indications that it resulted in the intended effects by striking terrorists and destroying or severely damaging several Khorasan Group vehicles and buildings assessed to be meeting and staging areas, IED-making facilities and training facilities," CENTCOM noted.

Earlier in the week, the Pentagon gave no indication the operation was in the offing. During a briefing on Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby was asked to comment about follow-on strikes targeting the Khorasan Group since September, when U.S.-led airstrikes in Syria began. Kirby said Tuesday "I do not have anything to announce with respect to individual leaders and their -- and whatever happened to them."

"That said, the Khorasan Group, we still believe remains a dangerous entity, that they still have desires and designs to attack Western targets, and we take that threat very, very seriously. I think I wouldn't go beyond that."

U.S. military forces undertook a series of airstrikes against the Khorasan Group, comprised of senior al-Qaida veterans, in Syria on Sept. 22. According to a senior White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity a day after the initial airstrikes, the president issued the strike order 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."

It is possible Drudgeon was involved in those attack plans and is believed to have been involved in facilitating the transfer of foreign fighters to and from Europe.