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Isis ‘financial minister' and 350 fighters killed by recent US air strikes in Iraq Isis ‘financial minister' and 350 fighters killed by recent US air strikes in Iraq
(about 7 hours later)
Air strikes have killed three senior Isis leaders - including the group's financial minister - and an estimated 350 fighters holed up in the Iraqi city of Ramadi, a US military spokesman has said.Air strikes have killed three senior Isis leaders - including the group's financial minister - and an estimated 350 fighters holed up in the Iraqi city of Ramadi, a US military spokesman has said.
Colonel Steve Warren, spokesman for the US military command in Baghdad, announced the deaths of Abu Salah, known as Isis’ financial minister, Abu Maryam, an “enforcer and senior leader of their [Isis] extortion network”, and Abu Rahman al-Tunisi, an “executive officer” who handles the transfer of information, people and weapons.Colonel Steve Warren, spokesman for the US military command in Baghdad, announced the deaths of Abu Salah, known as Isis’ financial minister, Abu Maryam, an “enforcer and senior leader of their [Isis] extortion network”, and Abu Rahman al-Tunisi, an “executive officer” who handles the transfer of information, people and weapons.
Col Warren told reporters at the Pentagon: “Killing him and his predecessors exhausts the knowledge and talent needed to coordinate funding within the organisation.”Col Warren told reporters at the Pentagon: “Killing him and his predecessors exhausts the knowledge and talent needed to coordinate funding within the organisation.”
Volunteers from Syria Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, help civilians after Russia carried out its first airstrikes in Syria
The aftermath of Russian airstrike in Talbiseh, Syria
Smoke billows from buildings in Talbiseh, in Homs province, western Syria, after airstrikes by Russian warplanes
AP
Russian Air Forces carry out an air strike in the ISIS controlled Al-Raqqah Governorate. Russia's KAB-500s bombs completely destroy the Liwa al-Haqq command unit
Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria
Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria, a thousand kilometres away. The targets include ammunition factories, ammunition and fuel depots, command centres, and training camps
Russia claimed it hit eight Isis targets, including a "terrorist HQ and co-ordination centre" that was completely destroyed
A release from the Russian defence ministry purportedly showing targets in Syria being hit
A video grab taken from the footage made available on the Russian Defence Ministry's official website, purporting to show an airstrike in Syria
Russia launched air strikes in war-torn Syria, its first military engagement outside the former Soviet Union since the occupation of Afghanistan in 1979. Russian warplanes carried out strikes in three Syrian provinces along with regime aircraft as Putin seeks to steal US President Barack Obama's thunder by pushing a rival plan to defeat Isis militants in Syria
He said all three were killed in late November during air strikes near the town of Tal Afar, in northern Iraq.He said all three were killed in late November during air strikes near the town of Tal Afar, in northern Iraq.
Acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Adam Szubin, said some of Isis’ funds came from looting between $500m and $1bn from bank vaults captured in Iraq and Syria, and through extorting the local population.Acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Adam Szubin, said some of Isis’ funds came from looting between $500m and $1bn from bank vaults captured in Iraq and Syria, and through extorting the local population.
According to the Financial Times, he told Chatham House in London the extremists were selling “a great deal of oil to the Assad regime” but the ramped-up bombing campaign on their oil infrastructure over the last month was “markedly degrading” their funds.According to the Financial Times, he told Chatham House in London the extremists were selling “a great deal of oil to the Assad regime” but the ramped-up bombing campaign on their oil infrastructure over the last month was “markedly degrading” their funds.
Col Warren also said recent airstrikes had killed an estimated 350 Isis fighters in the city of Ramadi in western Iraq, which was captured by Isis in May.Col Warren also said recent airstrikes had killed an estimated 350 Isis fighters in the city of Ramadi in western Iraq, which was captured by Isis in May.
The announcement suggested the militants have now lost as much as half their defending force.The announcement suggested the militants have now lost as much as half their defending force.
Col Warren said there had been an estimated 600 to 1,000 Isis fighters inside Ramadi, but officials are reluctant to predict how long it may take to reclaim the city.Col Warren said there had been an estimated 600 to 1,000 Isis fighters inside Ramadi, but officials are reluctant to predict how long it may take to reclaim the city.
Defence Secretary Ash Carter admitted the retaking of Ramadi was “disappointingly slow”.Defence Secretary Ash Carter admitted the retaking of Ramadi was “disappointingly slow”.
“I am certain it will fall, and we will assist in the making of it fall,” he said.“I am certain it will fall, and we will assist in the making of it fall,” he said.
He added that the US would be willing to commit US army Apache attack helicopters to the battle for Ramadi, if the Iraqi government requests it and if it would “make a strategically decisive difference”.He added that the US would be willing to commit US army Apache attack helicopters to the battle for Ramadi, if the Iraqi government requests it and if it would “make a strategically decisive difference”.
Asked about that comment later, Col Warren said, “Apache helicopters are ready,” if Washington and Baghdad give the go-ahead.Asked about that comment later, Col Warren said, “Apache helicopters are ready,” if Washington and Baghdad give the go-ahead.
He said the US is prepared to use Apache attack helicopters in Ramadi if requested by Washington and Baghdad, according to CBS News.He said the US is prepared to use Apache attack helicopters in Ramadi if requested by Washington and Baghdad, according to CBS News.