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| US 'reasonably certain' it has killed 'Jihadi John' – as it happened | US 'reasonably certain' it has killed 'Jihadi John' – as it happened |
| (30 days later) | |
| 7.22pm GMT | 7.22pm GMT |
| 19:22 | 19:22 |
| 6.57pm GMT | 6.57pm GMT |
| 18:57 | 18:57 |
| What would killing Emwazi mean for Isis and the coalition war in Syria? The Guardian’s Middle East editor Ian Black examines the question of what might come next. | What would killing Emwazi mean for Isis and the coalition war in Syria? The Guardian’s Middle East editor Ian Black examines the question of what might come next. |
| If confirmed, the targeted killing of Mohammed Emwazi will be a tactical and psychological achievement for the anti-Isis coalition, though it will have a greater impact in London and Washington than in the Arab world. “It shows we have killed one of their champions,” said one Whitehall official. But it is hard to see much practical effect on the group’s operations. | If confirmed, the targeted killing of Mohammed Emwazi will be a tactical and psychological achievement for the anti-Isis coalition, though it will have a greater impact in London and Washington than in the Arab world. “It shows we have killed one of their champions,” said one Whitehall official. But it is hard to see much practical effect on the group’s operations. |
| The capture of the strategic Iraqi town of Sinjar will likely turn out to be far more significant than the demise of one sinister executioner with a high media profile. Holding Sinjar could help open the way to Mosul, whose sudden fall precipitated the Isis declaration of a caliphate in Raqqa in north-eastern Syria. Fallujah and Ramadi beckon too, though some way down the line of what looks like a long haul. | The capture of the strategic Iraqi town of Sinjar will likely turn out to be far more significant than the demise of one sinister executioner with a high media profile. Holding Sinjar could help open the way to Mosul, whose sudden fall precipitated the Isis declaration of a caliphate in Raqqa in north-eastern Syria. Fallujah and Ramadi beckon too, though some way down the line of what looks like a long haul. |
| “Isis can still strike painful blows,” he continues. “Thursday’s bombing of the southern Beirut suburb of Bourj al-Barajneh, killing 43 people, was not only an attack on Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia militia that is fighting alongside Assad. | “Isis can still strike painful blows,” he continues. “Thursday’s bombing of the southern Beirut suburb of Bourj al-Barajneh, killing 43 people, was not only an attack on Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia militia that is fighting alongside Assad. |
| It was also hateful sectarianism borne of the unresolved conflict in Syria and promoted by the proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which respectively support and oppose Assad. On Friday the group announced that one of its members had blown himself up and killed 18 others at the funeral of a pro-government Shia fighter in Baghdad. | It was also hateful sectarianism borne of the unresolved conflict in Syria and promoted by the proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which respectively support and oppose Assad. On Friday the group announced that one of its members had blown himself up and killed 18 others at the funeral of a pro-government Shia fighter in Baghdad. |
| “Underlying all this is the fact that Isis is a symptom of political failings in Iraqand Syria,” said a European diplomat. “They have played on grievances so there has to be an effort to tackle the root causes or they won’t be defeated. And it is important to recognise that this is a long campaign. There is no quick way to do this. There is a real need for strategic patience.” | “Underlying all this is the fact that Isis is a symptom of political failings in Iraqand Syria,” said a European diplomat. “They have played on grievances so there has to be an effort to tackle the root causes or they won’t be defeated. And it is important to recognise that this is a long campaign. There is no quick way to do this. There is a real need for strategic patience.” |
| “The US needs to show that it has strategy that is working,” said Julien Barnes-Dacey of the European Council on Foreign Relations. “Given that they will not be able to squeeze a lot out of Vienna they badly need perceived impact elsewhere.” | “The US needs to show that it has strategy that is working,” said Julien Barnes-Dacey of the European Council on Foreign Relations. “Given that they will not be able to squeeze a lot out of Vienna they badly need perceived impact elsewhere.” |
| Related: Will killing Mohammed Emwazi have any effect on Isis? | Related: Will killing Mohammed Emwazi have any effect on Isis? |
| 6.48pm GMT | 6.48pm GMT |
| 18:48 | 18:48 |
| Earnest is cagey about “the final determination” of the operation, saying he wants to wait until the Pentagon makes a final report. | Earnest is cagey about “the final determination” of the operation, saying he wants to wait until the Pentagon makes a final report. |
| He reiterates that Emwazi held a recruitment role with Isis, and sought to move people to join the jihadi group. Still he says, “I don’t want to speculate” on what the consequences of the strike might be. | He reiterates that Emwazi held a recruitment role with Isis, and sought to move people to join the jihadi group. Still he says, “I don’t want to speculate” on what the consequences of the strike might be. |
| “These kinds of operations are not motivated by a desire to seek revenge or retribution, but rather to advance the national security interests of the United States.” | “These kinds of operations are not motivated by a desire to seek revenge or retribution, but rather to advance the national security interests of the United States.” |
| 6.41pm GMT | 6.41pm GMT |
| 18:41 | 18:41 |
| Earnest fields a question about president Obama’s remark that Isis has been “contained”; the reporter notes that there jihadi groups might be behind a downed Russian passenger jet in Egypt and a bombing in Lebanon. | Earnest fields a question about president Obama’s remark that Isis has been “contained”; the reporter notes that there jihadi groups might be behind a downed Russian passenger jet in Egypt and a bombing in Lebanon. |
| “I think the president was referring very specifically to the situation on the ground in Iraq and Syria,” Earnest says. | “I think the president was referring very specifically to the situation on the ground in Iraq and Syria,” Earnest says. |
| The reporter asks about “who ordered the shot” on Emwazi if not the president, and Earnest refers him to the “well established process” that goes on at the Defense Department for targeting Isis leaders. | The reporter asks about “who ordered the shot” on Emwazi if not the president, and Earnest refers him to the “well established process” that goes on at the Defense Department for targeting Isis leaders. |
| 6.31pm GMT | 6.31pm GMT |
| 18:31 | 18:31 |
| A reporter asks about the Foley statement, which suggested the US did not do enough to secure the release of hostages from Isis. | A reporter asks about the Foley statement, which suggested the US did not do enough to secure the release of hostages from Isis. |
| “Significant efforts and resources on the part of the United States government” were devoted to freeing hostages, Earnest says. He notes that the president “personally authorized a raid of US special operators inside of Syria” to try to free hostages – and that that raid ultimately failed. | “Significant efforts and resources on the part of the United States government” were devoted to freeing hostages, Earnest says. He notes that the president “personally authorized a raid of US special operators inside of Syria” to try to free hostages – and that that raid ultimately failed. |
| Nonetheless, he says, the US is committed to freeing Americans even as the White House remains unmoved on the proposition of ransoms. | Nonetheless, he says, the US is committed to freeing Americans even as the White House remains unmoved on the proposition of ransoms. |
| The US government paying ransoms in order to secure the release of US citizens only allows extremist organizations to gain access to finances … and makes American citizens traveling around the world even more a target. | The US government paying ransoms in order to secure the release of US citizens only allows extremist organizations to gain access to finances … and makes American citizens traveling around the world even more a target. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.34pm GMT | at 6.34pm GMT |
| 6.16pm GMT | 6.16pm GMT |
| 18:16 | 18:16 |
| Earnest won’t say what Obama might feel one way or another about the strike on Emwazi. | Earnest won’t say what Obama might feel one way or another about the strike on Emwazi. |
| “I think the president takes some satisfaction in knowing that the kind of strategy the Department of Defense laid out … is showing some signs of progress.” | “I think the president takes some satisfaction in knowing that the kind of strategy the Department of Defense laid out … is showing some signs of progress.” |
| He goes on to praise the offensive that retook Sinjar yesterday, especially coordination between Iraqi security forces and Kurdish peshmerga – coordination that the peshmerga downplayed from the front lines earlier Friday. | He goes on to praise the offensive that retook Sinjar yesterday, especially coordination between Iraqi security forces and Kurdish peshmerga – coordination that the peshmerga downplayed from the front lines earlier Friday. |
| “We certainly have spent time talking about the periods of setback, as we should,” Earnest said, an allusion to a boondoggle training and recruitment project and to the slow progress of an air campaign that has lasted more than a year. | “We certainly have spent time talking about the periods of setback, as we should,” Earnest said, an allusion to a boondoggle training and recruitment project and to the slow progress of an air campaign that has lasted more than a year. |
| He grows somber when asked about the statement from the family of one of Isis’ victims, James Foley. Foley’s mother said she found no justice in the air strike earlier Friday. | He grows somber when asked about the statement from the family of one of Isis’ victims, James Foley. Foley’s mother said she found no justice in the air strike earlier Friday. |
| Earnest says that the strike was carried out because of Emwazi’s “leading role” in Isis propaganda and hostages’ deaths, but adds: “I can understand why they take little solace in it. I think that’s a perfectly understandable [sentiment] for them to express.” | Earnest says that the strike was carried out because of Emwazi’s “leading role” in Isis propaganda and hostages’ deaths, but adds: “I can understand why they take little solace in it. I think that’s a perfectly understandable [sentiment] for them to express.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.19pm GMT | at 6.19pm GMT |
| 6.10pm GMT | 6.10pm GMT |
| 18:10 | 18:10 |
| A reporter asks Earnest whether the strike on Emwazi was anything like the raid on Osama bin Laden’s Pakistan compound, during which Barack Obama and his advisors personally oversaw the operation from the White House. | A reporter asks Earnest whether the strike on Emwazi was anything like the raid on Osama bin Laden’s Pakistan compound, during which Barack Obama and his advisors personally oversaw the operation from the White House. |
| “It was not, it was different than that,” Earnest says. The strike was more like other air strikes over the past few months, he continues. | “It was not, it was different than that,” Earnest says. The strike was more like other air strikes over the past few months, he continues. |
| But “it was quite clear to the president’s national security team [that someone] designing an online recruitment strategy [for Isis] are individuals who merit inclusion on a list of people to go after.” | But “it was quite clear to the president’s national security team [that someone] designing an online recruitment strategy [for Isis] are individuals who merit inclusion on a list of people to go after.” |
| Earnests says he doesn’t know how Obama reacted to the news of the strike, but that the president has been briefed before and after it occurred. | Earnests says he doesn’t know how Obama reacted to the news of the strike, but that the president has been briefed before and after it occurred. |
| 6.05pm GMT | 6.05pm GMT |
| 18:05 | 18:05 |
| Asked about whether any American special forces were involved in the air strike, Earnest refers are reporter to the Defense Department. | Asked about whether any American special forces were involved in the air strike, Earnest refers are reporter to the Defense Department. |
| He adds that the strike was “consistent” with other strikes over the past few months. The Pentagon said earlier today that the strike was conducted by a drone with a Hellfire missile, and that the aircraft recorded video of the strike on a car in Raqqa. | He adds that the strike was “consistent” with other strikes over the past few months. The Pentagon said earlier today that the strike was conducted by a drone with a Hellfire missile, and that the aircraft recorded video of the strike on a car in Raqqa. |
| 6.04pm GMT | 6.04pm GMT |
| 18:04 | 18:04 |
| Families of victims were contacted about the air strike ahead of public reports, Earnest says. | Families of victims were contacted about the air strike ahead of public reports, Earnest says. |
| He says the White House has made an effort to “streamline” and generally improve the communication between authorities and families of hostages. | He says the White House has made an effort to “streamline” and generally improve the communication between authorities and families of hostages. |
| 6.01pm GMT | 6.01pm GMT |
| 18:01 | 18:01 |
| Earnest says that the air strike is a sign that the US is able to “capitalize on available intelligence” and to “apply pressure” on Isis leadership. | Earnest says that the air strike is a sign that the US is able to “capitalize on available intelligence” and to “apply pressure” on Isis leadership. |
| “The fact that we’re even able to conduct this air strike [shows] that we’re serious about applying pressure to Isil leadership and using intelligence to do that. | “The fact that we’re even able to conduct this air strike [shows] that we’re serious about applying pressure to Isil leadership and using intelligence to do that. |
| Emwazi’s role in Isis propaganda “made him a target worth going after,” Earnest adds. | Emwazi’s role in Isis propaganda “made him a target worth going after,” Earnest adds. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.01pm GMT | at 6.01pm GMT |
| 5.59pm GMT | 5.59pm GMT |
| 17:59 | 17:59 |
| White House: Emwazi was 'threat around the world' | White House: Emwazi was 'threat around the world' |
| White House press secretary Josh Earnest has said he cannot confirm that Emwazi is dead until the Pentagon does. He does assert however that Emwazi was very important to Isis leadership. | White House press secretary Josh Earnest has said he cannot confirm that Emwazi is dead until the Pentagon does. He does assert however that Emwazi was very important to Isis leadership. |
| “At this point what I can confirm for you is that US forces conducted an air strike in Raqqa, Syria, yesterday our time,” he says. | “At this point what I can confirm for you is that US forces conducted an air strike in Raqqa, Syria, yesterday our time,” he says. |
| Mr Emwazi was a British citizen who is best known in this country for his participation in the death of some western hostages including some American citizens. Mr Emwazi was an Isil leader, he was a strategist for that organization, and he was intimately invovled in the effort by Isil to recruit individuals to their cause. So his ability to use social media to inspire and radicalize people around the globe meant that he was making a valuable contribution to Isil. | Mr Emwazi was a British citizen who is best known in this country for his participation in the death of some western hostages including some American citizens. Mr Emwazi was an Isil leader, he was a strategist for that organization, and he was intimately invovled in the effort by Isil to recruit individuals to their cause. So his ability to use social media to inspire and radicalize people around the globe meant that he was making a valuable contribution to Isil. |
| But “at this point I am not in a position to confirm the results of that operation,” he says. | But “at this point I am not in a position to confirm the results of that operation,” he says. |
| The Pentagon has “a very rigorous process for assessing these outcomes,” he adds, and “the final determination has not been made at this moment.” | The Pentagon has “a very rigorous process for assessing these outcomes,” he adds, and “the final determination has not been made at this moment.” |
| Earnest adds that Emwazi was “ a threat not just to the region but to countries around the world.” | Earnest adds that Emwazi was “ a threat not just to the region but to countries around the world.” |
| 5.53pm GMT | 5.53pm GMT |
| 17:53 | 17:53 |
| “Victory is ours. Sinjar is ours,” a Kurdish Peshmerga fighter has told my colleague Martin Chulov in the Iraqi city recently retaken from Isis forces, and where “the depravity of its conquerers was laid bare,” he reports. | “Victory is ours. Sinjar is ours,” a Kurdish Peshmerga fighter has told my colleague Martin Chulov in the Iraqi city recently retaken from Isis forces, and where “the depravity of its conquerers was laid bare,” he reports. |
| The fall of Sinjar also exposed the shortcomings of the Kurdish forces, who had been tasked with protecting the city but retreated as danger neared. And it scattered across the Nineveh plains minorities who had coexisted since the dawn of civilisation but could not survive Isis. | The fall of Sinjar also exposed the shortcomings of the Kurdish forces, who had been tasked with protecting the city but retreated as danger neared. And it scattered across the Nineveh plains minorities who had coexisted since the dawn of civilisation but could not survive Isis. |
| Sinjar’s recapture appears to herald a new phase in the war. On the bombed streets of the city, a few locals had returned to inspect what was left of their homes. “It doesn’t matter that the house has been bombed,” said one man in front of his partly ruined home. “It matters that I can take my family out of the refugee camp. This is ours again.” | Sinjar’s recapture appears to herald a new phase in the war. On the bombed streets of the city, a few locals had returned to inspect what was left of their homes. “It doesn’t matter that the house has been bombed,” said one man in front of his partly ruined home. “It matters that I can take my family out of the refugee camp. This is ours again.” |
| On the mountain above the city, the Iraqi Kurdish president Massoud Barzani declared victory, he continues. | On the mountain above the city, the Iraqi Kurdish president Massoud Barzani declared victory, he continues. |
| “Sinjar was liberated by the blood of the Peshmerga and became part of Kurdistan,” Barzani said. “It’s time for the Yazidi girls to hold their heads up. Revenge has been taken for them.” | “Sinjar was liberated by the blood of the Peshmerga and became part of Kurdistan,” Barzani said. “It’s time for the Yazidi girls to hold their heads up. Revenge has been taken for them.” |
| “These were like cattle yards,” said Corporal Falaa, a Yazidi member of the Iraqi police, of the buildings where women and girls were held as slaves by Isis. “What they did to girls here was beyond shame. It was against humanity. They separated them into groups of those who were married and those who were single. They had no mercy.” | “These were like cattle yards,” said Corporal Falaa, a Yazidi member of the Iraqi police, of the buildings where women and girls were held as slaves by Isis. “What they did to girls here was beyond shame. It was against humanity. They separated them into groups of those who were married and those who were single. They had no mercy.” |
| “Peshmerga fighters who flashed victory signs all afternoon were quick to point out that they, and not the Iraqi army, had pushed Isis back,” the reports goes on. | “Peshmerga fighters who flashed victory signs all afternoon were quick to point out that they, and not the Iraqi army, had pushed Isis back,” the reports goes on. |
| “This shows what we can do,” said a senior Kurdish official. “We acknowledge the failings of last summer [2014], but they were command and control issues and they have been sorted out. The Americans know that we are reliable and that the Iraqi army still isn’t. But if they want us to take Mosul, it will be on our terms. We are not agents. And we are not naive.” | “This shows what we can do,” said a senior Kurdish official. “We acknowledge the failings of last summer [2014], but they were command and control issues and they have been sorted out. The Americans know that we are reliable and that the Iraqi army still isn’t. But if they want us to take Mosul, it will be on our terms. We are not agents. And we are not naive.” |
| Related: 'Tyranny has gone': Kurds and Yazidis celebrate recapture of Sinjar from Isis | Related: 'Tyranny has gone': Kurds and Yazidis celebrate recapture of Sinjar from Isis |
| 5.46pm GMT | 5.46pm GMT |
| 17:46 | 17:46 |
| Aine Davis, the British associate of Emwzi reportedly detained by Turkish authorities, went from life as “a petty criminal to a drug dealer who converted to Islam, becoming further radicalised during a spell in jail,” the Telegraph reported last year. | Aine Davis, the British associate of Emwzi reportedly detained by Turkish authorities, went from life as “a petty criminal to a drug dealer who converted to Islam, becoming further radicalised during a spell in jail,” the Telegraph reported last year. |
| Davis worked only sporadically. The Old Bailey trial heard that he had taken a job with London Underground in 2006 and 2007 although Transport for London said it had no record of Aine Davis ever working for the company. | Davis worked only sporadically. The Old Bailey trial heard that he had taken a job with London Underground in 2006 and 2007 although Transport for London said it had no record of Aine Davis ever working for the company. |
| His private life was just as chaotic. He had two children with one woman before marrying El-Wahabi. She grew up in London, the daughter of Moroccan-born parents. She lived at home until she was 19, when she met Davis, three years her senior, at the Aklam Road mosque in west London in 2006. | His private life was just as chaotic. He had two children with one woman before marrying El-Wahabi. She grew up in London, the daughter of Moroccan-born parents. She lived at home until she was 19, when she met Davis, three years her senior, at the Aklam Road mosque in west London in 2006. |
| He had by then converted to Islam and was calling himself Hamza. It is not clear if Davis ever had direct dealings with his now namesake Abu Hamza, the notorious “hook-handed” cleric, who also lived in west London but is now jailed in America for terrorism offences. | He had by then converted to Islam and was calling himself Hamza. It is not clear if Davis ever had direct dealings with his now namesake Abu Hamza, the notorious “hook-handed” cleric, who also lived in west London but is now jailed in America for terrorism offences. |
| You can read more of the Telegraph’s profile of Davis here. | You can read more of the Telegraph’s profile of Davis here. |
| 5.30pm GMT | 5.30pm GMT |
| 17:30 | 17:30 |
| A suspected British associate of Emwazi has been detained in Turkey, Reuters reports, citing two senior Turkish officials. | A suspected British associate of Emwazi has been detained in Turkey, Reuters reports, citing two senior Turkish officials. |
| A man thought to be Aine Lesley Davis, one of a group of British Islamists believed to have been assigned to guard foreign prisoners in Syria, was detained in Istanbul, the officials said. | A man thought to be Aine Lesley Davis, one of a group of British Islamists believed to have been assigned to guard foreign prisoners in Syria, was detained in Istanbul, the officials said. |
| They declined to give further details, saying investigations by the police and intelligence agencies were continuing. | They declined to give further details, saying investigations by the police and intelligence agencies were continuing. |
| Last year Davis’ wife in London was sentenced to two years in prison for a plan to send him €20,000 ($21,430) in cash through Turkey. | Last year Davis’ wife in London was sentenced to two years in prison for a plan to send him €20,000 ($21,430) in cash through Turkey. |
| 5.05pm GMT | 5.05pm GMT |
| 17:05 | 17:05 |
| Pentagon briefing summary | Pentagon briefing summary |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.18pm GMT | at 5.18pm GMT |