‘Imminent Attack’ On U.S. By Khorasan Thwarted by Syria Airstrikes
U.S. airstrikes in Syria reportedly ended an “imminent attack” threat against the American homeland by Khorasan. The terrorist group reportedly includes an entire network of “seasoned al Qaeda veterans.” A United States Military statement released early Tuesday morning said that in addition to destroying ISIS targets that airstrikes in Syria also thwarted an imminent attack against U.S. and Western interests by the Khorasan.
Details about the imminent threat posed by the Khorasan are not yet known. The al Qaeda linked group had established a stronghold in Syria, according to the U.S. military news released. The group was reportedly using their presence in Syria to plot terrorism attacks recruit Westerners to join the Khorasan, and to build roadside bombs. The U.S. airstrikes targeted Khorasan training camps, a communications building, explosives production facility, and command and control facilities, according to the Pentagon. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, ISIS spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani recently released a statement urging all Islamic State militants to kill American and French citizens anywhere they can be found around the world.
During an interview with NBC News a senior United States Defense Department official said that the Khorasan target airstrikes were a “last minute add-on” to the planned targets and were not the primary focus of the airstrikes in Syria. The U.S. military official also said that Syrian president Bashar Assad’s regime had received notification from the Obama administration about the pending airstrikes.
National Intelligence Director James Clapper said, “In terms of threat to the homeland, Khorasan may pose as much of a danger as the Islamic State,” during an interview with the New York Times. The Khorasan is reportedly led by Muhsin al-Fadhli, who allegedly has a “very close relationship” with Osama bin Laden. The Syria-based terror group is one of the most secretive groups operating in the shadows of the civil war in Syria, according to the International Business Times.
Unlike militant groups in Syria focused on overthrowing President Bashar Assad or removing ISIS – or both, the Khorasan has reportedly expressed very little interest in the outcome of the civil war. The Khorasan also reportedly has ties to Yemeni bomb maker Ibrahim al-Asiri, who is reportedly a member of the al Qaeda branch on the Arabian Peninsula. Al-Asiri is belied to have made the underwear bomb used by Farouk Abdulmutallab in 2009.
The U.S. airstrikes in Syria which were launched from warships in the North Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea reportedly destroyed a multitude of targets, including ISIS headquarters, armored vehicles, command facilities, training compounds, and a training center. President Barack Obama is expected to address the nation from the White House later this morning.
What do you think about the U.S. airstrikes in Syria and the terrorism attack threat by the Khorasan?
[Image via: Uskowi on Iran]
