ISIS confirms killing of its number two in US air strike

Middle East, News October 14, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

The second in command of terror group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was killed in a US air strike, group’s spokesman confirmed on Tuesday

Abu Muslim al-Turkmani, also known as Haji Mutaz and Abu Mutaz al-Qurashi, was blown up in an attack near Mosul on August 18, according to the White House.

Islamic State’s spokesman appeared to confirm his death now.

In an audio recording posted on jihadist websites, Abu Mohamed al-Adnani said: “America is rejoicing over the killing of Abu Mutaz al-Qurashi and considers this a great victory.”

Adnani did not say, however, in what circumstances Qurashi died.

But the White House, in an announcement on August 22, said that Qurashi, whose real name is Fadhil Ahmad al-Hayali, was killed on August 18 in a U.S. air strike near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

It said the strike targeted a vehicle and also killed an IS “media operative” known as Abu Abdullah.

The White House said that Qurashi, also known as Fadhil Ahmad al-Hayali, died following a strike on a vehicle in the northern Iraqi city.

Turkmani was one of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s inner circle.

The U.S. National Security Council said at the time that Hayali was IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s senior deputy.

The White House described Hayali as a member of the ISIS ruling council, and “a primary coordinator for moving large amounts of weapons, explosives, vehicles and people between Iraq and Syria.”