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| Abu al-Hassan al-Qurayshi: IS announces leader's death and names replacement | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| IS still launches sporadic attacks in Iraq and Syria (Mosul file pic) | IS still launches sporadic attacks in Iraq and Syria (Mosul file pic) |
| The jihadist group Islamic State (IS) has announced the death of its leader, Abu al-Hassan al-Hashemi al-Qurayshi. | The jihadist group Islamic State (IS) has announced the death of its leader, Abu al-Hassan al-Hashemi al-Qurayshi. |
| An audio message from the group's spokesman said he was killed while fighting what he called "the enemies of God", but he gave no further details. | An audio message from the group's spokesman said he was killed while fighting what he called "the enemies of God", but he gave no further details. |
| The US said he was killed in an operation by the rebel Free Syrian Army in south-west Syria in mid-October. | The US said he was killed in an operation by the rebel Free Syrian Army in south-west Syria in mid-October. |
| He became leader in March, after his predecessor blew himself up during a raid by US forces in north-west Syria. | He became leader in March, after his predecessor blew himself up during a raid by US forces in north-west Syria. |
| The spokesman named his replacement as Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurayshi - another apparent nom-de-guerre. | The spokesman named his replacement as Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurayshi - another apparent nom-de-guerre. |
| As with the previous announcement, the spokesman refrained from revealing his real name, nationality or background. | As with the previous announcement, the spokesman refrained from revealing his real name, nationality or background. |
| He described Abu al-Hussein as "one of the veteran mujahidin" and urged the group's supporters to pledge allegiance to him. | He described Abu al-Hussein as "one of the veteran mujahidin" and urged the group's supporters to pledge allegiance to him. |
| Very little was known about Abu al-Hassan, who never issued any statements in his name as leader. But on Monday, an anti-IS Telegram channel supportive of rival jihadist group al-Qaeda said he had been killed "some time ago". | Very little was known about Abu al-Hassan, who never issued any statements in his name as leader. But on Monday, an anti-IS Telegram channel supportive of rival jihadist group al-Qaeda said he had been killed "some time ago". |
| US raid catches senior IS leader alive in Syria | US raid catches senior IS leader alive in Syria |
| The US military's Central Command said in a statement that Abu al-Hassan was killed in the south-western Syrian province of Deraa by the Free Syrian Army, an umbrella group for rebel factions seeking to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad in the country's civil war. | The US military's Central Command said in a statement that Abu al-Hassan was killed in the south-western Syrian province of Deraa by the Free Syrian Army, an umbrella group for rebel factions seeking to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad in the country's civil war. |
| No US forces were involved in the operation, a military spokesperson added. | No US forces were involved in the operation, a military spokesperson added. |
| Earlier, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, John Kirby said: "We welcome the announcement that another leader of [IS] is no longer walking the face of the Earth." | Earlier, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, John Kirby said: "We welcome the announcement that another leader of [IS] is no longer walking the face of the Earth." |
| IS once held 88,000 sq km (34,000 sq miles) of territory stretching from eastern Iraq to western Syria and imposed its brutal rule on almost eight million people. | IS once held 88,000 sq km (34,000 sq miles) of territory stretching from eastern Iraq to western Syria and imposed its brutal rule on almost eight million people. |
| The group was driven from its last piece of territory in 2019, but the UN warned in July that it remained a persistent threat. | The group was driven from its last piece of territory in 2019, but the UN warned in July that it remained a persistent threat. |
| It is estimated to have between 6,000 and 10,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq, who are based mostly in rural areas and continue to carry out hit-and-run attacks, ambushes and roadside bombings. | It is estimated to have between 6,000 and 10,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq, who are based mostly in rural areas and continue to carry out hit-and-run attacks, ambushes and roadside bombings. |
| IS regional affiliates also pose threats in other conflict zones across the world. The UN said the most vigorous and well-established networks were based in Afghanistan, Somalia and the Lake Chad basin. | IS regional affiliates also pose threats in other conflict zones across the world. The UN said the most vigorous and well-established networks were based in Afghanistan, Somalia and the Lake Chad basin. |