WASHINGTON, April 21 (Reuters) – The United States disclosed on Friday a secret military ground operation to kill an Islamic State operative seen as a close associate of leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and who was linked to an attack on a Turkish nightclub that killed 39 people.
Get daily National news
Abdurakhmon Uzbeki, who was believed to be from Uzbekistan, was killed during the ground assault near Mayadin, Syria, on April 6, said Colonel John Thomas, a spokesman for the U.S. military’s Central Command.
READ MORE: Milton Ont. woman identified as Canadian killed in Turkey nightclub attack
- Four extremist plots to attack Jewish targets disrupted in Canada, report says
- Nicolas Maduro to face trial on U.S. drug trafficking charges in June 2027
- Saudi Arabia nuclear pact with U.S. may create path to uranium enrichment
- Toronto pro-Palestinian protester charged with terrorism over alleged Hamas links
Turkish authorities captured the suspected attacker in January following a two-week manhunt. Officials say he later confessed to carrying out the attack.
“It was a ground operation. I think that’s all we’re willing to say about that,” Thomas said, declining further comment. He specified that Uzbeki did not die in an airstrike.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.