Senior al Qaeda leader killed by airstrike

A high-ranking Al-Qaeda official has been killed by an airstrike in Syria, the Associated Press reported Saturday.

It was not clear whether the blast was the result of a U.S.-led coalition or Russian operation – two forces that are both engaged over Syrian airspace.

{mosads}The Saudi man, named Abdul Mohsen Abdallah Ibrahim al-Chakekh and who also goes by Sanafi al-Nasr, was killed Thursday, along with two other fighters, a human rights group told the AP.

The source of the attacks was not known, but it will likely have large implications in the fight.

Russia began its airstrike campaign targeting the Islamic State in Syria late last month, raising questions about how it will operate alongside a separate effort from the U.S. and its allies.

U.S. leaders have painted Russia’s airstrike campaign as part of an effort to gain greater influence in the Middle East and prop up Syrian leader Bashar Assad’s regime as opposed to combating ISIS.

Leaders from the U.S. and Russia reached an agreement Friday to better share the airspace and avoid any mishaps.