A truck is loaded with munitions , then driven up a hillside in northern Syria . Moments later , there is a massive blast followed by cries of `` Allahu Akbar , '' or God is great in Arabic , as well as the rattling of gunfire . Suicide bombings like this are not new in war-torn Syria . But what could make this one different is the man who radical Islamists say played a part in pulling it off . An American . Abu Farouk al Shamy , a spokesman for the rebel Suqour al-Sham battalion , told CNN the Sunday attack was executed in coordination with the al-Nusra Front , an al Qaeda-linked organization that the U.S. government has blacklisted as a foreign terror organization . One video on YouTube , with the title `` the American martyrdom from al-Nusra Front , '' identifies the suicide bomber as Abu Hurayra Al-Amriki . This video and several other social media posts feature a picture of a bearded man with that name , smiling and holding a cat . The man 's full and true identity is not known , and CNN can not independently verify an American by any name recently died in Syria . But a U.S. law enforcement official concurs the man likely has an American connection . It 's not known if he might be a U.S. citizen or resident , though . And the official pointed out any identity ca n't be confirmed until remains are recovered or examined , something that would be difficult , given the size of the explosion . U.S. concern about Americans fighting in Syria . Syrian activists say the video is from Sunday and shows militants ' preparations and ultimate attack on Syrian military checkpoints in Jabal Al-Arba'een , near the city of Ariha in Idlib province and believed to be along a key rebel supply route . According to Syrian activists and social media postings , four vehicles laden with explosives were part of the attack . One YouTube video says the American detonated the biggest one , which contained 17 tons of explosives , including artillery shells . It is not clear what exactly this man 's involvement was , including whether he was driving an armored truck , a tanker or some other vehicle . Even if he clearly did not act alone , it is the man identified as Abu Hurayra who has gotten a lot of attention on websites and social media venues tied to radical Islamists . This includes a tweet by a man with the handle Abu Suleiman al-Muhajer , whose bio identifies him as belonging to al Qaeda in the Levant , the umbrella organization for the al-Nusra Front . His tweet , which was published on the radical Islamist website Hanein , features the alleged American 's picture and the words , `` Abu Hurayra Al-Amriki performed a martyrdom operation in Idlib , Jabal Al-Arba'een . May Allah accept him . '' The name Abu Hurayra , which is popular among Sunni Muslims , offers little clue as to the man 's identity . Abu Hurayra was a companion of the Islamic prophet Mohammed and the narrator of Hadith . Regardless , if his U.S. nationality could somehow be confirmed , it would n't be a total surprise . U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials have expressed concerns about Americans joining the fight in Syria , including with groups like the jihadist al-Nusra Front . The worry is that they and other Westerners might pose a threat when they return a home . `` There 's going to be a diaspora out of Syria , '' FBI Director James Comey said last week . `` And we are determined not to let lines be drawn from Syria today to a future 9/11 . '' U.S. closer to expanding training for Syrian rebels . 6 chemical weapons inspectors reported kidnapped in Syria now safe . Gas attack alleged in Syria ; 21 die in shelling .
Video of a recent suicide attack on government targets in northern Syria . Radical Islamists : One of the attackers is American , identified as Abu Omar . U.S. official : Man likely had an American connection , but it 's not fully confirmed . U.S. officials have expressed concerns about continued violence in Syria .