Islamic State on Thursday confirmed the loss of life of its chief Abu Hussein al-Husseini al-Quraishi and named Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Quraishi as his substitute, the group’s spokesperson stated in an undated recording revealed on its Telegram channel.
It gave the impression to be the militant group’s first official announcement on his destiny since Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan stated in April that Turkish intelligence forces had killed him in Syria.
Erdogan stated the Turkish nationwide intelligence group had pursued Quraishi for a very long time.
Quraishi was killed throughout a gun battle with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the principle Islamist group that holds sway within the final opposition bastion in northwest Syria, the spokesman stated.
“The Sheikh (Quraishi), might God have mercy on him, was killed after they (HTS) tried to take him captive. He clashed with them together with his arms till he died of his wounds,” the spokesman stated, accusing the rival Islamist group of performing as brokers of Turkish intelligence.
Islamic State, a shadow of the organisation that after dominated a 3rd of Iraq and Syria, gave no particulars in regards to the new chief.
The motion reached its peak in 2014 when its then head, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared the territory it managed a caliphate.
It was crushed again by adversaries in each international locations together with a U.S.-led coalition, and Baghdadi was killed throughout a U.S. army operation in Syria in 2019.
Abu Hussein al-Husseini al-Quraishi took over in November 2022 after his predecessor was killed, additionally in Syria.
Islamic State militants proceed to wage rebel assaults in each Syria and Iraq.
Its remaining 1000’s of militants have in recent times principally hid out in distant hinterlands of each international locations, although they’re nonetheless able to finishing up hit-and-run assaults.
The U.S.-led coalition alongside a Kurdish-led alliance generally known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continues to be finishing up raids towards Islamic State in Syria.
Supply: Reuters
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