Jakarta, IO – The militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) announced the death of their leader Abu Hasan al-Hashimi al-Quraishi whom it said was killed in battle without providing details, reported Merdeka on Friday (2/12).
ISIS spokesperson Abu Umar al-Muhajir said it has named Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Quraishi as their new leader. Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) revealed that the terrorist leader was killed in an operation in mid-October.
“This operation was conducted by the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in Daraa province in Syria. ISIS remains a threat to the region. CENTCOM and our partners remain focused on the enduring defeat of ISIS,” said CENTCOM spokesman Colonel Joe Buccino.
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According to report from Reuters, Abu Hasan al-Hashimi al-Quraishi blew himself up after he and his aides were surrounded by Syrian fighters in the city of Jasem.
“The leader and a companion blew themselves up with suicide belts after our fighters succeeded in storming their hideout,” said Salem al Horani, a resident of Jasem and former fighter who participated in the siege of the three houses where the ISIS cell was discovered. (un)