ISIS 'minister of information' killed in airstrike: Pentagon

Washington, Sept 17: A senior Islamic State operative, considered the terror group's information minister, was killed in a coalition airstrike in Syria, the Pentagon said on Friday, a week after another raid eliminated a top ISIS leader.

Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said that Dr Wa'il, also known as Wa'il Adil Hasan Salman al-Fayad, has been killed in a precision airstrike near the ISIS stronghold of Raqqah in Syria.

"On September 7, coalition forces conducted a precision strike near Raqqah, Syria, that targeted and killed Dr Wa'il, one of ISIS's most senior leaders," Cook said.

Wai'l operated as the minister of Information for the terror organisation and was a prominent member of its Senior Shura Council - ISIS's leadership group, he said. Wa'il oversaw ISIS's production of terrorist propaganda videos showing torture and executions.

He was a close associate of Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, the ISIS spokesman and leader for plotting and inspiring external terror attacks, he said. Al-Adnani was successfully struck and killed by coalition forces on August 30, he added.

"The removal of ISIS's senior leaders degrades its ability to retain territory, and its ability to plan, finance, and direct attacks inside and outside of the region. "We will continue to work with our coalition partners to build momentum in the campaign to deal ISIS a lasting defeat," Cook said.

PTI