ISIS announces leader killed, names successor

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, the Islamic State (ISIS) announced Wednesday that its overall leader Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi has been killed and named a new leader for the group.

Media outlets affiliated with the group aired an audio attributed to Abu Omar al-Muhajer announcing the death of Hassan al-Hashimi. 

“He died fighting the enemies of God, killing some of them before being killed like a man on the battlefield,” al-Muhajer added.

The group named Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurayshi as new leader.

On March 23, 2019, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced the defeat of the radical group after taking control of the town of al-Baghouz, ISIS last stronghold.

In October 2019, the group’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed by US troops, and his successor Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi was killed in a similar act in February 2022.

Weeks later, the group named Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi a new leader.

Up to now, the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, the US Department of Defense and the SDF have made no comment.

Reporting by Adnan Hamo