Statement on Airstrike in Syria that Killed Sanafi al-Nasr
Oct. 18, 2015

Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook provided the following statement:

On Oct. 15, Coalition forces conducted an airstrike in northwest Syria that killed Abdul Mohsen Adballah Ibrahim al Charekh, aka Sanafi al-Nasr, a Saudi national and the highest ranking leader of the network of veteran al-Qaeda operatives sometimes called the “Khorasan Group.” Al-Nasr was a long-time jihadist experienced in funneling money and fighters for al-Qaeda. He moved funds from donors in the Gulf region into Iraq and then to al-Qaeda leaders from Pakistan to Syria. He organized and maintained routes for new recruits to travel from Pakistan to Syria through Turkey in addition to helping al-Qaeda’s external operations in the West. Al-Nasr previously worked for al-Qaeda’s Iran-based facilitation network. In 2012 he took charge of al-Qaeda’s core finances before relocating to Syria in 2013. ‎Al-Nasr is the fifth senior Khorasan Group leader killed in the last four months.

“The United States will not relent in its mission to degrade, disrupt and destroy al-Qaeda and its remnants,” said Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. “This operation deals a significant blow to the Khorasan Group’s plans to attack the United States and our allies, and once again proves that those who seek to do us harm are not beyond our reach.”

The Treasury Department previously named Al-Nasr a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224 on Aug. 22, 2014. For operational security reasons we will not go into the specifics of the strikes.