U.S. Targets 2 Al Qaeda Leaders Using A Version Of The Hellfire Missile That Deploys 'Ninja Blades

Jihadists shared this picture on social media. It reportedly depicts the car that was carrying two al Qaeda operatives struck by a missile in Syria.

Long War Journal: U.S. reportedly targets 2 senior al Qaeda figures in airstrike in Syria

Two al Qaeda leaders were reportedly killed in a drone strike in Syria’s Idlib province earlier today, according to jihadists on social media. Pictures of the car carrying them were posted on Telegram and other messaging applications.

It appears the vehicle was struck with a R9X, a version of the Hellfire missile that has been used in previous targeted killings, or a similar weapon. The Wall Street Journal reported last year that the R9X doesn’t explode upon impact, but instead deploys a “halo of six long blades” that slice through their target. The missile was intended to further limit civilian casualties.

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Update: Secretive 'ninja sword' R9X airstrike reported in Idlib (Jerusalem Post)

WNU Editor: Ouch!

FBI Says Saudi Military Trainee Who Killed Three Sailors At Pensacola Naval Base Last Summer Had Contacts With al Qaeda For Years

Daily Mail: Saudi military trainee who shot three sailors dead at Pensacola naval base had contact with al Qaeda for years, FBI reveals after breaking through encryption on his iPhone - as AG Bill Bar slams Apple for refusing to help

* Saudi military trainee Mohammed Alshamrani opened fire on Naval Air Base Station in Pensacola in December, killing three US sailors and wounding eight
* Cellphone data shows the gunman was in contact with al Qaeda operatives
* Investigators uncovered the ties by breaking through the encryption protecting Alshamrani's two iPhones
* Attorney General William Barr and FBI Director Chris Wray announced the finding at a news conference on Monday
* The officials attacked Apple for refusing to help investigators access the devices
* Barr called on Congress to take action forcing Apple and other tech companies to help law enforcement get through encryption during criminal investigations

The FBI has found cellphone evidence linking al Qaeda to the deadly terror attack at a Florida naval base last December.

Investigators uncovered the ties by breaking through the encryption protecting two iPhones used by Mohammed Alshamrani, the Saudi military trainee who opened fire on the Naval Air Base Station in Pensacola, killing three US sailors and injuring eight other people before he was shot dead by law enforcement.

Attorney General Bill Barr and FBI Director Chris Wray announced the latest case developments at a news conference on Monday.

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WNU Editor: No thanks to Apple for breaking the encryption on Saudi military trainee Mohammed Alshamrani's iPhone .... FBI, DOJ slam Apple for lack of help as they detail al-Qaida link to Pensacola shooter (NBC).

More News On The FBI's Report That Says Saudi Military Trainee Who Killed Three Sailors At Pensacola Naval Base Last Summer Had Contacts With al Qaeda

FBI Director Christopher Wray’s Remarks at Press Conference Regarding Naval Air Station Pensacola Shooting Investigation -- FBI
FBI: Shooter at Pensacola base coordinated with al-Qaida -- AP
FBI phone probe links al Qaeda to Saudi who killed three at Florida base, Barr says -- Reuters
Saudi shooter in Florida air base attack had "significant ties" to al Qaeda, Barr says -- CBS
FBI: US naval base attack 'motivated by Al-Qaeda' -- BBC
Barr: 'Significant ties' between al Qaeda, shooter at Pensacola naval base -- The Hill
FBI Finds Florida Gunman Who Killed U.S. Sailors Was Linked to Al Qaeda After Breaking iPhone Encryption -- Newsweek
US officials see al-Qaeda link to Florida military base attack -- Al Jazeera

Pentagon Confirms Carrying Out A Massive Airstrike Against al-Qaeda-Linked Terrorists In Idlib, Syria

At least 40+ militants of the Al-qaida faction "Guardians of Religion Organization" also called "Hurras al-din" including high-ranked leaders/commanders were eliminated in the airstrikes carried out by International Coalition forces.#Syria #Idlib #HTS #SAA #AQ #Al_Qaida #Turkey pic.twitter.com/ToZtHKGCNT

— Rojava Network (@RojavaNetwork) August 31, 2019

Long War Journal: Airstrike targeted Al Qaeda leadership in Syria, U.S. military says

The American military conducted an airstrike against al Qaeda in Syria (AQ-S) “leadership at a facility north of Idlib, Syria” earlier today, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). It is the second time the U.S. has struck al Qaeda operatives in Syria since late June.

The “operation targeted AQ-S leaders responsible for attacks threatening U.S. citizens, our partners, and innocent civilians.” CENTCOM adds that the “removal of this facility will further degrade their ability to conduct future attacks and destabilize the region.”

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WNU Editor: The U.S. military/intelligence must have seen an opportunity that was just too good to not ignore.

More News On Reports That The U.S. Carried Out A Massive Airstrike Against al-Qaeda-Linked Terrorists In Idlib, Syria

US strikes jihadists in Syria, monitor says 40 killed -- AFP
Syria war: US missile strike on 'al-Qaeda leaders' in Idlib -- BBC
US Conducts Strike vs Al-Qaida at Facility Near Idlib, Syria -- Bloomberg
Syria's war: US 'targets al-Qaeda leaders' in rebel-held Idlib -- Al Jazeera
Pentagon Confirms Carrying Out Strike on al-Qaeda-Linked Terrorists in Idlib, Syria -- Sputnik
Reported US Airstrikes On Idlib Target Meeting Of Top Al-Qaeda Commanders -- Zero Hedge

Is The U.S. Drone War Against al Qaeda In Yemen Working?

A man walks past a graffiti, denouncing strikes by U.S. drones in Yemen, painted on a wall in Sanaa November 13, 2014 Khaled Abdullah/REUTERS

Rathna K. Muralidharan, RCD: Trump Drone War Against al Qaeda Paying Dividends

Since taking office, Trump has been particularly focused on targeting al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a major affiliate of the al-Qaeda network that operates primarily in Yemen and is a significant threat to the West. The Trump administration has escalated strike activity and walked back Obama era policies that restricted military and CIA operations in Yemen. As his first year in office comes to an end, it’s worth looking back at the president’s strike activity as a marker for what’s to come under, as well as after, his administration. How Trump dictates operations against AQAP will hold lasting consequences for future counterterrorism policies, regional stability, and the evolution of al-Qaeda’s threat to the U.S.

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WNU Editor:  Using drones is only a stop-gap measure .... not having boots on the ground to hold and deny territory to the enemy has never worked in the past, and will not now.