Shadowy al Qaeda cell, hit by U.S. in Syria, seen as 'imminent' threat

A Tomahawk cruise missile is launched against Islamic State targets from the US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke, in the Red Sea, September 23, 2014. Credit: Reuters/U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Carlos M. Vazquez Ii

Washington;U.S: While the world has focused on a U.S.-led air assault on Islamic State strongholds in Syria, American officials said they also struck a blow there against a little-known cadre of hardened al Qaeda militants that posed a more immediate threat to the West.