Islamic State has confirmed that the top leader of the terror group was killed last month. The organization has done so in an audio message, AP news agency reports. The name of the successor has also been announced.
It is the first time that IS has released anything about the death of Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi. Last month the White House made known that he had committed suicide after a US attack in northwestern Syria. He and members of his family were believed to have been killed in the explosion. President Biden called it a cowardly act.
IS has now announced in an audio message that the successor has now been appointed. His name is Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi and he is said to have been named the next caliph by the late leader himself. “He has accepted leadership,” an IS spokesperson said of the new IS leader.
Second time
It is the second time in three years that US troops have taken out the top IS leader. Last year was another head piece killed by French troops.
At its peak in 2014, IS occupied a third of Syria and Iraq. After being largely ousted in 2019, members are making efforts to revive the movement. In January, IS launched a big attack at a prison in northeastern Syria where at least 3,000 IS detainees were held. Many people died.
–
