WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. forces conducted a precision air strike near Sarmada, Syria, on Nov. 18, that killed Abu Afghan Al-Masri, a senior al Qaeda leader in Syria, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said Tuesday during a press conference.

Al-Masri, an Egyptian, originally joined al Qaeda in Afghanistan, and later moved to its Syrian affiliate, Cook said. He had ties to terrorist groups operating throughout Southwest Asia, including groups responsible for attacking U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan and those plotting to attack the West.

“Al-Masri’s removal from the battlefield represents another blow to al Qaeda and Syria and demonstrates continued U.S. determination to target al Qaeda leaders wherever they pose a threat to the U.S., our allies and interests,” Cook said.