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IS second-in-command 'killed in US raid in Syria' | IS second-in-command 'killed in US raid in Syria' |
(35 minutes later) | |
The second-in-command of so-called Islamic State (IS) has been killed in a US operation in Syria, US media report. | The second-in-command of so-called Islamic State (IS) has been killed in a US operation in Syria, US media report. |
Abdul Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli, an Iraqi also known as Hajji Iman, died during a raid by US special forces on Thursday, officials told NBC News. | Abdul Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli, an Iraqi also known as Hajji Iman, died during a raid by US special forces on Thursday, officials told NBC News. |
US Defence Secretary Ash Carter was expected to confirm the jihadist's death and provide details of the raid in a statement at 14:30 GMT. | US Defence Secretary Ash Carter was expected to confirm the jihadist's death and provide details of the raid in a statement at 14:30 GMT. |
The US authorities had offered a reward of $7m (£5m) for Qaduli. | The US authorities had offered a reward of $7m (£5m) for Qaduli. |
Defence officials told NBC correspondent Richard Engel that US special operations forces landed in helicopters in Syria early on Thursday morning. | |
They lay in wait as Qaduli drove past them in a car, and were able to stop it. | |
There was an attempt to capture Qaduli alive, but the situation escalated and the militant and three other people in the vehicle were killed, the officials said. | |
Qaduli, an ethnic Turkmen, was born in 1957 or 1959 in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, which has been controlled by IS since 2014. | Qaduli, an ethnic Turkmen, was born in 1957 or 1959 in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, which has been controlled by IS since 2014. |
He joined al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) - a precursor of IS - in 2004 under the leadership of the late Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, serving as his deputy and the local leader in Mosul, according to the US. | He joined al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) - a precursor of IS - in 2004 under the leadership of the late Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, serving as his deputy and the local leader in Mosul, according to the US. |
After his release from an Iraqi prison in early 2012, he joined IS forces in Syria. | After his release from an Iraqi prison in early 2012, he joined IS forces in Syria. |
Last year, some sources identified Qaduli as "Abu Alaa al-Afari", who was said to have taken temporary charge of IS after its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was allegedly injured in an air strike. | Last year, some sources identified Qaduli as "Abu Alaa al-Afari", who was said to have taken temporary charge of IS after its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was allegedly injured in an air strike. |
Mr Carter will also confirm on Friday the death of the "minister of war" of IS earlier this month, according to the Daily Beast. | Mr Carter will also confirm on Friday the death of the "minister of war" of IS earlier this month, according to the Daily Beast. |
Tarkhan Batirashvili, a Georgian known as Omar Shishani, was the target of a US air strike in north-eastern Syria on 4 March, US officials say. | Tarkhan Batirashvili, a Georgian known as Omar Shishani, was the target of a US air strike in north-eastern Syria on 4 March, US officials say. |