US: ISIS Figure Linked to Paris Attacks Killed

— -- An ISIS figure who was “actively planning attacks against the West” and had a “direct link” to the deadly Paris attacks has been killed, a spokesperson for the U.S. military said today.

Col. Steve Warren, spokesperson for the U.S.-led Operation Inherent Resolve, tweeted that Charaffe al-Mouadan, a “Syria-based leader” of ISIS directly connected to Paris ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud, met his end on Dec. 24. Warren told reporters today Al-Mouadan was killed in a coalition airstrike in Syria.

“We will hunt [ISIS] leaders working to inspire attacks against US and our allies,” Warren wrote online.

Al-Mouadan was among a number of purported ISIS figures Warren said had been killed in airstrikes this month, a list that also included several “facilitators” and mid-level figures.

Among the others killed this month, according to the U.S. military, is a “forgery specialist” also linked to the Paris attackers. A military official declined to say exactly what type of forgery the man was purportedly involved in. ABC News reported earlier this month that U.S. officials fear ISIS has gotten ahold of at least one authentic Syrian passport printing machine, raising concerns the group could print its own legitimate-looking passports. At least two of the Paris attackers entered Europe on what are believed to be fake Syrian documents.