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US targets Al-Qaida Militants in Northern Syria

Associated Press

   BEIRUT - The U.S. military says it has struck an al-Qaida leadership
   and training facility in northern Syria where attacks threatening
   Americans and others were being planned.

   The U.S. Central Command said in a statement that the strike occurred
   on Sunday near the northern province of Aleppo.

   The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an
   opposition-linked war monitor, said Monday that the strike killed eight
   members of the al-Qaida-linked Horas al-Din, which is Arabic for
   ``Guardians of Religion.''

   The Observatory says the dead included six commanders: two Algerians,
   two Tunisians, an Egyptian and a Syrian.

   Al-Qaida-linked militants control wide parts of northern Syria, mostly
   in Idlib province, the last major rebel stronghold in the war-torn
   country.