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| A Top ISIS Leader Is Killed in an Airstrike, the Pentagon Says | A Top ISIS Leader Is Killed in an Airstrike, the Pentagon Says |
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| WASHINGTON — American Special Operations forces in eastern Syria killed a top Islamic State commander this week, Pentagon officials said Friday, part of a monthslong air campaign the Obama administration boasts is eviscerating the Islamic State even as the group continues to demonstrate the power to sow violence in Western Europe. | WASHINGTON — American Special Operations forces in eastern Syria killed a top Islamic State commander this week, Pentagon officials said Friday, part of a monthslong air campaign the Obama administration boasts is eviscerating the Islamic State even as the group continues to demonstrate the power to sow violence in Western Europe. |
| The American forces originally hoped to capture the commander, Abd al-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli, and were following his vehicle in at least two helicopters, according to a senior military official who requested anonymity. But their plan to land Special Operations fighters, seize Mr. Qaduli and return him to the helicopter changed for unknown reasons, and they fired on the vehicle instead, killing him. | The American forces originally hoped to capture the commander, Abd al-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli, and were following his vehicle in at least two helicopters, according to a senior military official who requested anonymity. But their plan to land Special Operations fighters, seize Mr. Qaduli and return him to the helicopter changed for unknown reasons, and they fired on the vehicle instead, killing him. |
| Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter announced Mr. Qaduli’s death, describing him as the group’s top financier, but offered no details of how he had been killed. Mr. Carter said the military effort against the Islamic State was gaining momentum, repeating a claim he has made for the past three months. He also said the group was steadily being drained of leaders, soldiers and money, and was losing its grip on the parts of Iraq and Syria it has controlled. | |
| The announcement came just three days after the Islamic State killed 31 people in a series of explosions in Brussels, showing in gruesome fashion that its abilities to conduct large-scale terror attacks are hardly diminished. But the week’s events could offer a glimpse of what is to come in the next year as the Islamic State and the United States-led coalition to defeat it engage in a series of punches and counterpunches, with each side claiming the upper hand. | The announcement came just three days after the Islamic State killed 31 people in a series of explosions in Brussels, showing in gruesome fashion that its abilities to conduct large-scale terror attacks are hardly diminished. But the week’s events could offer a glimpse of what is to come in the next year as the Islamic State and the United States-led coalition to defeat it engage in a series of punches and counterpunches, with each side claiming the upper hand. |
| “This is going to last quite a while,” said Brian Fishman, a terrorism expert at the New America Foundation in Washington. “It’s absolutely true these guys have lost territory in Syria and Iraq. But you don’t need to control a state that size in order to train people to successfully carry out terrorist attacks in Europe.” | “This is going to last quite a while,” said Brian Fishman, a terrorism expert at the New America Foundation in Washington. “It’s absolutely true these guys have lost territory in Syria and Iraq. But you don’t need to control a state that size in order to train people to successfully carry out terrorist attacks in Europe.” |
| As its base in Syria is pummeled, the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS and ISIL, is not without advantages. Recent months have shown that European cities are veined with Islamic State networks that provide money, weaponry and false identifications for would-be attackers. | As its base in Syria is pummeled, the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS and ISIL, is not without advantages. Recent months have shown that European cities are veined with Islamic State networks that provide money, weaponry and false identifications for would-be attackers. |
| These networks have exposed weaknesses of European spy agencies — many of which appear overwhelmed by the threat — and terrorism experts have been particularly alarmed by the bomb-making abilities of the plotters of the attacks in Brussels and in Paris in November. Nevertheless, American officials are convinced that the military campaign is making progress and that they have the right strategy to defeat the group. | These networks have exposed weaknesses of European spy agencies — many of which appear overwhelmed by the threat — and terrorism experts have been particularly alarmed by the bomb-making abilities of the plotters of the attacks in Brussels and in Paris in November. Nevertheless, American officials are convinced that the military campaign is making progress and that they have the right strategy to defeat the group. |
| “We’ve made a dent in the resources,” said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. John F. Dunford, at the news conference with Mr. Carter. “We’ve started to affect their command and control in a negative way. I think we’ve begun to undermine the narrative. But there’s a lot of work that remains to be done.” | “We’ve made a dent in the resources,” said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. John F. Dunford, at the news conference with Mr. Carter. “We’ve started to affect their command and control in a negative way. I think we’ve begun to undermine the narrative. But there’s a lot of work that remains to be done.” |
| Mr. Qaduli, who was also known as Hajji Imam, was killed as the United States is having increased success targeting the Islamic State’s leadership. Last week, Defense Department officials concluded that American strikes had killed the group’s minister of war, Omar al-Shishani. The military has also targeted a senior Islamic State leader known as Abu Sarah, who was believed to be the group’s chief accountant and was in charge of paying the group’s fighters in northern Iraq, according to the senior military official. | Mr. Qaduli, who was also known as Hajji Imam, was killed as the United States is having increased success targeting the Islamic State’s leadership. Last week, Defense Department officials concluded that American strikes had killed the group’s minister of war, Omar al-Shishani. The military has also targeted a senior Islamic State leader known as Abu Sarah, who was believed to be the group’s chief accountant and was in charge of paying the group’s fighters in northern Iraq, according to the senior military official. |
| “We are systematically eliminating ISIL’s cabinet,” Mr. Carter said at a news conference, adding that he did not know whether Mr. Qaduli had played a role in the bombings this week in Brussels. | “We are systematically eliminating ISIL’s cabinet,” Mr. Carter said at a news conference, adding that he did not know whether Mr. Qaduli had played a role in the bombings this week in Brussels. |
| But he made clear that killing the Islamic State’s leaders would not by itself end the danger it posed. | But he made clear that killing the Islamic State’s leaders would not by itself end the danger it posed. |
| “Striking leadership is necessary, but as you note, it’s far from sufficient,” Mr. Carter said. “Leaders can be replaced. However, these leaders have been around for a long time. They are senior, they’re experienced, and so eliminating them is an important objective and it achieves an important result. But they will be replaced, and we’ll continue to go after their leadership.” | “Striking leadership is necessary, but as you note, it’s far from sufficient,” Mr. Carter said. “Leaders can be replaced. However, these leaders have been around for a long time. They are senior, they’re experienced, and so eliminating them is an important objective and it achieves an important result. But they will be replaced, and we’ll continue to go after their leadership.” |
| Mr. Carter said American airstrikes had also destroyed “a significant quantity of improvised explosive devices and bomb-making equipment” that could have been used against Iraqi forces as they try and reclaim the city of Mosul. | Mr. Carter said American airstrikes had also destroyed “a significant quantity of improvised explosive devices and bomb-making equipment” that could have been used against Iraqi forces as they try and reclaim the city of Mosul. |
| Defense Department officials have declined to elaborate on why they believe they are having more accuracy striking the group’s top commanders. A special unit of American commandos tasked with identifying, capturing and killing the Islamic State’s leaders arrived in Iraq this year and began working closely with local forces there. | Defense Department officials have declined to elaborate on why they believe they are having more accuracy striking the group’s top commanders. A special unit of American commandos tasked with identifying, capturing and killing the Islamic State’s leaders arrived in Iraq this year and began working closely with local forces there. |
| A similar group of American Special Operations forces in Syria has been working alongside rebel groups there for several months. | A similar group of American Special Operations forces in Syria has been working alongside rebel groups there for several months. |