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| Pentagon 'reasonably certain' Raqqa strike killed Mohammed Emwazi Pentagon 'reasonably certain' Raqqa strike killed Mohammed Emwazi | |
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| The Pentagon’s official spokesman says the US is “reasonably certain” that a drone strike killed the Islamic State executioner Mohammed Emwazi, describing the British militant as a “human animal”. | The Pentagon’s official spokesman says the US is “reasonably certain” that a drone strike killed the Islamic State executioner Mohammed Emwazi, describing the British militant as a “human animal”. |
| Pentagon spokesman Steve Warren said a military video showed a man believed to be Emwazi in a car that was struck by a US drone’s Hellfire missile in the Syrian city of Raqqa. “We know for a fact that the weapons system hit the intended target and that the personnel on the receiving end were killed by that,” he said, adding there were no civilian casualties. | Pentagon spokesman Steve Warren said a military video showed a man believed to be Emwazi in a car that was struck by a US drone’s Hellfire missile in the Syrian city of Raqqa. “We know for a fact that the weapons system hit the intended target and that the personnel on the receiving end were killed by that,” he said, adding there were no civilian casualties. |
| UK-based Syrian rights activists with sources in Raqqa said they were certain the Kuwaiti-born Briton died in the attack, alongside three other people who were with him in the car. | UK-based Syrian rights activists with sources in Raqqa said they were certain the Kuwaiti-born Briton died in the attack, alongside three other people who were with him in the car. |
| “Four young men were in the car, including a British citizen who was a very senior figure,” Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told the Guardian. “We are 100% certain that he is dead. People have told us that there were a lot of [body] parts.” | “Four young men were in the car, including a British citizen who was a very senior figure,” Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told the Guardian. “We are 100% certain that he is dead. People have told us that there were a lot of [body] parts.” |
| US officials confirmed that Emwazi – known as Jihadi John – was tracked by intelligence for some time. They stressed that such attacks were now routine in Syria, suggesting that up to a hundred so-called high value individuals [HVIs] had been killed in similar circumstances since the middle of the year. | US officials confirmed that Emwazi – known as Jihadi John – was tracked by intelligence for some time. They stressed that such attacks were now routine in Syria, suggesting that up to a hundred so-called high value individuals [HVIs] had been killed in similar circumstances since the middle of the year. |
| “For us it was a fairly routine HVI strike,” said Warren. “We have killed on average one mid-to-upper level Isil [Isis] leader every two days since May.” | “For us it was a fairly routine HVI strike,” said Warren. “We have killed on average one mid-to-upper level Isil [Isis] leader every two days since May.” |
| The Pentagon believes Emwazi’s death is a public relations blow to Isis. “This is significant because Jihadi John was … an Isil celebrity – the face of the organisation in many senses – so there is significant blow to their prestige,” Warren said. | The Pentagon believes Emwazi’s death is a public relations blow to Isis. “This is significant because Jihadi John was … an Isil celebrity – the face of the organisation in many senses – so there is significant blow to their prestige,” Warren said. |
| “This guy was a human animal. Killing him is probably making the world a better place.” | “This guy was a human animal. Killing him is probably making the world a better place.” |
| Video footage taken by the US is believed to show Emwazi leaving a building in central Raqqa and entering a vehicle along with a driver, whom Warren jokingly referred to as “his worst best friend”. | Video footage taken by the US is believed to show Emwazi leaving a building in central Raqqa and entering a vehicle along with a driver, whom Warren jokingly referred to as “his worst best friend”. |
| Charles Lister, an expert on jihadis in Syria, acknowledged that Emwazi’s death would be highly symbolic. “Although Emwazi’s death won’t incur Isis territorial losses, it’ll almost certainly heighten a sense of internal security paranoia that has been spreading for several months now,” he said. “Kill strikes like this are often about more than just the target itself. | Charles Lister, an expert on jihadis in Syria, acknowledged that Emwazi’s death would be highly symbolic. “Although Emwazi’s death won’t incur Isis territorial losses, it’ll almost certainly heighten a sense of internal security paranoia that has been spreading for several months now,” he said. “Kill strikes like this are often about more than just the target itself. |
| “By reminding Isis that it is constantly under surveillance – not just from the air but possibly also by assets on the ground – the coalition is enforcing an intense psychological pressure that can severely test a terrorist groups’ cohesion and unity.” | “By reminding Isis that it is constantly under surveillance – not just from the air but possibly also by assets on the ground – the coalition is enforcing an intense psychological pressure that can severely test a terrorist groups’ cohesion and unity.” |
| David Cameron described the airstrike targeting Emwazi as an act of self-defence that struck at the heart of the terrorist organisation. In a statement outside Downing Street on Friday morning, the British prime minister said: “[Mohammed Emwazi] posed an ongoing and serious threat … This [airstrike] was an act of self-defence. It was the right thing to do.” | David Cameron described the airstrike targeting Emwazi as an act of self-defence that struck at the heart of the terrorist organisation. In a statement outside Downing Street on Friday morning, the British prime minister said: “[Mohammed Emwazi] posed an ongoing and serious threat … This [airstrike] was an act of self-defence. It was the right thing to do.” |
| Cameron branded Emwazi a “barbaric murderer” and said Britain had been working “hand in glove” round the clock with the US to track him down and target him. | Cameron branded Emwazi a “barbaric murderer” and said Britain had been working “hand in glove” round the clock with the US to track him down and target him. |
| The White House said President Obama had not been directly involved in approving the attack as had been the case with Osama bin Laden, but claimed Emwazi’s work as a strategist who was “intimately involved” in recruitment for Isis further justified the strike. | The White House said President Obama had not been directly involved in approving the attack as had been the case with Osama bin Laden, but claimed Emwazi’s work as a strategist who was “intimately involved” in recruitment for Isis further justified the strike. |
| “The role that Mr Emwazi has played in radicalising and inspiring individuals around the world to join their cause made him a threat not just to the region but to countries around the world,” said spokesman Josh Earnest. “His ability to use social media to inspire and radicalise citizens around the globe meant he was making a valuable contribution to Isil.” | “The role that Mr Emwazi has played in radicalising and inspiring individuals around the world to join their cause made him a threat not just to the region but to countries around the world,” said spokesman Josh Earnest. “His ability to use social media to inspire and radicalise citizens around the globe meant he was making a valuable contribution to Isil.” |
| US officials have appeared more upbeat in recent days about their military offensive which has struggled for many months to make a dent in the territory claimed by the militants across Iraq and Syria. | US officials have appeared more upbeat in recent days about their military offensive which has struggled for many months to make a dent in the territory claimed by the militants across Iraq and Syria. |
| On Friday, the Kurdish Peshmerga, backed by US-led strikes, claimed to have taken full control of Sinjar, a city that had come to define the war for northern Iraq since it was seized by the jihadi group 15 months ago. “We have killed all [Isis],” a Peshmerga fighter said. “Victory is ours. Sinjar is ours.” | On Friday, the Kurdish Peshmerga, backed by US-led strikes, claimed to have taken full control of Sinjar, a city that had come to define the war for northern Iraq since it was seized by the jihadi group 15 months ago. “We have killed all [Isis],” a Peshmerga fighter said. “Victory is ours. Sinjar is ours.” |
| The Pentagon confirmed for the first time that many of the 250 airstrikes against Isis in Sinjar in recent days were directly targeted by US special forces operating alongside Kurdish fights on the summit of Mount Sinjar. | The Pentagon confirmed for the first time that many of the 250 airstrikes against Isis in Sinjar in recent days were directly targeted by US special forces operating alongside Kurdish fights on the summit of Mount Sinjar. |
| The offensive coincided with a recent attack against Isis oil production facilities in Syria. The US has also claimed that Kurdish and Iraqi forces working together with its support have retaken 1,800 sq km (695 sq miles) near Ramadi since the summer. It said it believed 287 Isis fighters had been killed in recent days. | The offensive coincided with a recent attack against Isis oil production facilities in Syria. The US has also claimed that Kurdish and Iraqi forces working together with its support have retaken 1,800 sq km (695 sq miles) near Ramadi since the summer. It said it believed 287 Isis fighters had been killed in recent days. |
| Earnest claimed that a “confluence of events” in Raqqa, Sinjar and Ramadi meant that Obama’s strategy for tackling Isis was now “showing some signs of progress”, but officials remained “cautious about making grand pronouncements”. | Earnest claimed that a “confluence of events” in Raqqa, Sinjar and Ramadi meant that Obama’s strategy for tackling Isis was now “showing some signs of progress”, but officials remained “cautious about making grand pronouncements”. |
| Emwazi is believed to be responsible for the deaths of several Isis hostages. Relatives were told of the drone strike before the information was released to the media and on Friday described feeling mixed reactions to the US strike. | Emwazi is believed to be responsible for the deaths of several Isis hostages. Relatives were told of the drone strike before the information was released to the media and on Friday described feeling mixed reactions to the US strike. |
| Bethany Haines, daughter of murdered aid worker David Haines, spoke of her relief at the possibility that Emwazi had been killed. “After seeing the news that Jihadi John was killed I felt an instant sense of relief, knowing he wouldn’t appear in anymore horrific videos,” she told ITV News. | Bethany Haines, daughter of murdered aid worker David Haines, spoke of her relief at the possibility that Emwazi had been killed. “After seeing the news that Jihadi John was killed I felt an instant sense of relief, knowing he wouldn’t appear in anymore horrific videos,” she told ITV News. |
| “He was only a pawn in Isis’s stupid game but knowing it’s over; that he’s finally dead, still hasn’t sunk in. As much as I wanted him dead I also wanted answers as to why he did it, why my dad, how did it make a difference?” | “He was only a pawn in Isis’s stupid game but knowing it’s over; that he’s finally dead, still hasn’t sunk in. As much as I wanted him dead I also wanted answers as to why he did it, why my dad, how did it make a difference?” |
| In Japan, the mother of Kenji Goto, a Japanese journalist believed to have been killed by Emwazi, echoed her son’s peace-loving attitude in comments to public broadcaster NHK. “I only wish there will be no more conflicts like these in this world, as my son had hoped to see peace prevail around the world,” said Junko Ishido. | In Japan, the mother of Kenji Goto, a Japanese journalist believed to have been killed by Emwazi, echoed her son’s peace-loving attitude in comments to public broadcaster NHK. “I only wish there will be no more conflicts like these in this world, as my son had hoped to see peace prevail around the world,” said Junko Ishido. |
| But for some friends and families of Emwazi’s victims, his death brings little solace. Majid Freeman, a humanitarian aid worker who was on the convoy with British taxi driver Alan Henning when he was captured by Isis in December 2013, said he wanted Emwazi to be captured alive and put on trial as a war criminal. | But for some friends and families of Emwazi’s victims, his death brings little solace. Majid Freeman, a humanitarian aid worker who was on the convoy with British taxi driver Alan Henning when he was captured by Isis in December 2013, said he wanted Emwazi to be captured alive and put on trial as a war criminal. |
| “If the Americans were able to know where he was and target him in a drone strike, surely they could have captured him as they did last month when they rescued prisoners from an Iraqi jail and arrested Isis fighters?” he said. | “If the Americans were able to know where he was and target him in a drone strike, surely they could have captured him as they did last month when they rescued prisoners from an Iraqi jail and arrested Isis fighters?” he said. |
| Art and Shirley Sotloff, the parents of American Steven Sotloff, who was killed by Isis in September 2014, said: “This development doesn’t change anything for us; it’s too little too late. Our son is never coming back.” | Art and Shirley Sotloff, the parents of American Steven Sotloff, who was killed by Isis in September 2014, said: “This development doesn’t change anything for us; it’s too little too late. Our son is never coming back.” |
| Echoing the Sotloffs, the parents of James Foley, an American journalist killed by Isis, released a statement on Friday saying it was “a very small solace” to learn of the Isis executioner’s death. | Echoing the Sotloffs, the parents of James Foley, an American journalist killed by Isis, released a statement on Friday saying it was “a very small solace” to learn of the Isis executioner’s death. |
| “His death does not bring Jim back. If only so much effort had been given to finding and rescuing Jim and the other hostages who were subsequently murdered by Isis, they might be alive today.” | “His death does not bring Jim back. If only so much effort had been given to finding and rescuing Jim and the other hostages who were subsequently murdered by Isis, they might be alive today.” |