A Former French Intelligence Officer Who Defected To al Qaida Was A Priority Target In The First Wave Of U.S. Air Strikes In Syria Last Month

Sources: U.S. Air Strikes In Syria Targeted French Agent Who Defected To al Qaida -- McClatchy News

IRBIL, Iraq — A former French intelligence officer who defected to al Qaida was among the targets of the first wave of U.S. air strikes in Syria last month, according to people familiar with the defector’s movements and identity.

Two European intelligence officials described the former French officer as the highest ranking defector ever to go over to the terrorist group and called his defection one of the most dangerous developments in the West’s long confrontation with al Qaida.

The identity of the officer is a closely guarded secret. Two people, independently of one another, provided the same name, which McClatchy is withholding pending further confirmation. All of the sources agreed that a former French officer was one of the people targeted when the United States struck eight locations occupied by the Nusra Front, al Qaida’s Syrian affiliate. The former officer apparently survived the assault, which included strikes by 47 cruise missiles.

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My Comment: They are keeping this former French intelligence officer's identity secret .... but I suspect that to be targeted in the first wave .... he must know some secrets and intel that some in Paris and in Washington would prefer he takes to the grave.