ISIS names new leader, confirms predecessor’s death

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) –  The Islamic State jihadist group confirmed the death of its leader Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi in a statement Thursday and named Abu Hasan al-Hashemi al-Qurashi as his successor

The announcement came more than a month after the ISIS leader died during a US raid that saw troops flown by helicopter into northwest Syria, in an area controlled by rival jihadists.

ISIS personnel have “pledged allegiance” to “Abu Hasan al-Hashemi al-Qurashi as an emir over believers and the caliph of Muslims,” the group’s spokesperson said in an audio recording released on its social media channels.

The recording confirmed the death of the former ISIS leader along with the group’s ex-spokesman.

Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi died in February when he detonated a bomb to avoid capture in the town of Atma in Idlib, northwest Syria.