What is the Khorasan group?

By Kaye Foley

There's a new name in terror — the Khorasan group.

On Sept. 22, the U.S. and allies launched airstrikes in Syria against the Islamic State militants. But the U.S. went on a solo mission that night as well, with eight separate airstrikes against the Khorasan group.

So who are these guys? Well, Khorasan actually stems from a familiar foe.

It is a small network of an estimated 50 or so al-Qaida veterans who set up shop in Syria, benefiting from the cover of civil war and the protection of the Syrian al-Qaida affiliate al-Nusra Front. Although the group was brought to public attention in the past week, Attorney General Eric Holder said in an exclusive interview with Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric the U.S. has been watching Khorasan for two years.

Muhsin al-Fadhli, Khorasan's 33-year-old leader, reportedly was a member of Osama bin Laden's inner circle. Once the head of al-Qaida in Iran, al-Fadhli relocated to Syria to recruit people with Western passports.

Officials believe that the Khorasan group was creating undetectable explosives for hand-held devices and toiletries and planning an imminent attack on Western nations, particularly the United States.

It's too bad there's yet another terrorist group we have to become educated about.  But if knowledge is power, at least you can say, #NowIGetIt.