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Isis jihadi linked to Paris terror attacks killed by US-led airstrikes - Pentagon Isis jihadi linked to Paris terror attacks killed in US-led airstrikes, says Pentagon
(about 2 hours later)
US-led airstrikes have killed a Syrian-based jihadi linked to the chief planner of the November suicide attacks in Paris, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. US-led airstrikes have killed a French jihadi based in Syria who was linked to the chief planner of November’s Islamic State atrocities in Paris and was “actively planning” new attacks, the Pentagon has said.
Related: Iraqi PM visits Ramadi after declaring Isis will be 'terminated' in 2016Related: Iraqi PM visits Ramadi after declaring Isis will be 'terminated' in 2016
Pentagon spokesman Col Steve Warren named the dead man as Charaffe al-Mouadan, a French national, who he said had a direct link to the Paris attack cell leader, Abdelhamid Abaoud, and was killed on 24 December. Pentagon spokesman Col Steve Warren named the dead man as Charaffe al-Mouadan, a French national, who he said had a direct link to the Paris attack cell leader, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, and was killed on 24 December.
It appeared to be the first successful targeting of anyone directly linked to the deadliest attack on civilians in France since the second world war, and in line with pledges by the US president, Barack Obama, and other western leaders that terrorism would not go unpunished.
“Al-Mouadan was actively planning attacks against the west,” Warren said. “We will hunt Isil [Isis] leaders working to inspire attacks against US and our allies. As long as Isil external attack planners are operating, the US military will hunt them and kill them.”“Al-Mouadan was actively planning attacks against the west,” Warren said. “We will hunt Isil [Isis] leaders working to inspire attacks against US and our allies. As long as Isil external attack planners are operating, the US military will hunt them and kill them.”
Warren is the spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, the US military operation against Isis. Warren is the spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led military operation against Isis.
Ten Isis leaders are reported to have been killed in airstrikes over the past month. News of the deaths followed reports from Turkey that a Briton and two Pakistanis had been arrested on suspicion of membership of the terrorist group. Earlier, police in Belgium announced the arrests of two men said to have planned attacks there. Ten Isis leaders are reported to have been killed in airstrikes on Syria and Iraq over the past month. News of the deaths followed reports from Turkey that a Briton and two Pakistanis had been arrested on suspicion of membership of the terrorist group. Earlier, police in Belgium announced the arrests of two men said to have planned attacks there.
Abaoud, a Belgian of Moroccan origin, was killed in a shootout in Paris a few days after the attacks that killed 129 people. Abaaoud, a Belgian national of Moroccan origin, was killed in a shootout in Paris a few days after the attacks that killed 130 people.
Al-Mouadan, 27, who reportedly went by the nickname Souleymane — was a friend of gunman Samy Amimour, one of the three suicide attackers who killed 90 people at the Bataclan concert hall on November 13. Mouadan, 27, who reportedly went by the nickname Souleymane, was a friend of gunman Samy Amimour, one of the three suicide attackers who killed 90 people at the Bataclan concert hall on 13 November.
The pair, who met in the north-eastern Paris suburb of Drancy, had reportedly spoken several times of fleeing France to wage jihad in Yemen or Afghanistan. In 2012, Amimour and al-Mouadan were both charged with “conspiracy to commit terrorism.” El-Mouadan is believed to have left for Syria in 2013. The pair, who met in the north-eastern Paris suburb of Drancy, had reportedly spoken several times of fleeing France to wage jihad in Yemen or Afghanistan. A third man, named by French media as Samir Bouabout, was also involved. The three friends were reportedly radicalised online.
Investigators turned their attention to al-Mouadan after one of the survivors of the Bataclan massacre said he had overheard one of the attackers — Ismaël Omar Mostefaï — refer to a man called “Souleymane.” According to the witness, Mostefaï asked Amimour whether he was planning to get in touch with Souleymane. Amimour then replied that, no, he wasn’t, and that they would do it “their way.” In 2012, Amimour and Mouadan were both charged with “conspiracy to commit terrorism.” Amimour was placed under judicial supervision but dropped off the radar, prompting the authorities to issue an international arrest warrant. It was later revealed he had travelled to Syria and evidently then slipped back in to France. Mouadan is believed to have left for Syria in August 2013.
Le Parisien reported that al-Mouadan was a “charismatic” figure who had undergone firearms training in Paris starting in March 2012. Investigators turned their attention to Mouadan after one of the survivors of the Bataclan massacre said he had overheard one of the attackers – Ismaël Omar Mostefaï – refer to a man called Souleymane. According to the witness, Mostefaï asked Amimour whether he was planning to get in touch with Souleymane. Amimour said he was not, and that they would do it “their way”.
Another of those killed was Abdul Qader Hakim, who Warren said facilitated Islamic State’s external operations and also had links to the Paris attack network. He was killed in Mosul on December 26, Warren said. Le Parisien reported that Mouadan was a charismatic figure who had undergone firearms training in Paris starting in March 2012. Le Figaro reported on Tuesday that al-Mouadan had died in an airstrike on the vehicle he was travelling in. He was known in jihadist circles as Abu Soulaymane al Faransi.
The effect of the air strikes on the Isis leadership can be seen in recent battlefield successes against the group, Warren said. The Iraqi army recently saw its first major victory against the ultra-hardline Sunni militants, declaring the capture this week of Ramadi, a provincial capital west of Baghdad which fell to Islamic State in May. Another of those killed was Abdul Qader Hakim, who Warren said facilitated Isis external operations and also had links to the Paris attack network. He was killed in Mosul on 26 December, Warren said. The effect of the airstrikes on the Isis leadership can be seen in recent battlefield successes against the group, Warren said. The Iraqi army recently saw its first major victory against the extremist Sunni militants, declaring the capture this week of Ramadi, a provincial capital west of Baghdad which fell to Isis in May.
“Part of those successes is attributable to the fact that the organisation is losing its leadership,” Warren said. He warned, however: “It’s still got fangs.”“Part of those successes is attributable to the fact that the organisation is losing its leadership,” Warren said. He warned, however: “It’s still got fangs.”