The U.S.-led coalition says that its forces have killed a top militant from the Islamic State group in central Syria. Iraqi officials identified the militant as Omar Abdul-Qader, also known as Abdul-Rahman al-Halabi. They said he was the head of IS for operations abroad and was planning attacks in Europe and the United States. The U.S. Central Command confirmed the strike, saying Abdul-Qader posed a direct threat to the U.S. and that his killing disrupts the group's ability to plan future attacks. CENTCOM said forces had help from Iraqi security agencies. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said the raid occurred in Syria’s Hama province.
