U.S. hits al-Qaida militants in Syria for third time

Beirut — U.S. defense officials and a Syrian activist say American aircraft have hit al-Qaida militants in Syria for a third time as part of the international campaign against Islamic extremists.

The officials say the strike took place on Thursday and targeted the Khorasan group, which the U.S. says is a special cell within al-Qaida’s Syrian branch — the Nusra Front — plotting attacks against Western interests.

The officials did not provide any details. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

Syrian activist Asaad Kanjo says the attack occurred near the town of Harem in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province near the Turkish border. He says residents reported seeing a drone fire two missiles that struck a Nusra Front base, killing at least two people.