The U.S. military in Iraq says its warplanes have bombed a suspected al-Qaida safehouse in the western part of the country, near the Syrian border.

The air strike, early Thursday, specifically targeted what the military said was a "known bombmaking cell leader," Abu Mohammad, who was also believed to have participated in tribal fighting in the area. It was not clear if he was confirmed killed in the strike near the town of Husaybah.

In other news, rescued American hostage Roy Hallums is reported in good health and is expected to return to the United States within days. The U.S. military says within three hours of obtaining information on where he was being held from an Iraqi detainee they launched a successful mission Wednesday to free him.