White House claims ISIS ‘Number two’ killed, again
The Islamic State terrorist group’s number two was killed during a US air strike in Iraq on Tuesday, the White House said on Friday, allegedly dealing a blow to the group that has sought to form a caliphate in the Middle East.
“Fadhil Ahmad al-Hayali, also known as Hajji Mutazz … was killed in a US military air strike on August 18 while traveling in a vehicle near Mosul, Iraq, along with an Isil(Isis) media operative known as Abu Abdullah,” White House spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.
“Al-Hayali’s death will adversely impact ISIL’s operations given that his influence spanned Isil’s finance, media, operations, and logistics,” Price said, referring to the group by an acronym.
The White House said al-Hayali was a “primary coordinator” for moving weapons, explosives, vehicles, and people between Iraq and Syria.
They believe he was in charge of operations in Iraq and helped plan the group’s offensive in Mosul in June of last year.
US officials had previously declared Al-Hayali, also known as Abu Muslim al-Turkmani, dead. He was thought to have been killed in early December by a US air strike.
Armed Predator drone firing Hellfire missile 2010 photo Brigadier Lance Mans, Deputy Director, NATO Special Operations Coordination Centre
