Russia’s claim that it carried out the airstrike in Syria that killed Islamic State’s spokesman and chief strategist is “garbage”, a US official tells VOA. “Abu Mohammad al-Adnani was considered to be the second person in the ISIS after his leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and was notorious for appeals for terrorist attacks in the countries of Western #Europe and in the #USA”.
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“Without his explosive voice, ISIS may find it hard to inspire the intense levels of violence that it has managed to inspire of late”. He allegedly carried out many high-profile attacks overseas that killed hundreds, including in Paris and Istanbul. The claim came after the Pentagon said on Tuesday that it had carried out a precision strike targeting Adnani near Al Bab, Syria.
The United States continues to assess the results of the airstrike through what Cook called “a rigorous process”.
“Most notably, he served as ISIL’s chief of external operations, directing and inspiring major terrorist attacks outside of Iraq and Syria”, the official added, using an alternative name for the group.
The Pentagon on Tuesday said it had targeted Adnani, who Daesh has said was killed in Aleppo province.
The coalition had been actively looking for Adnani for some time, he said.
He said it was clear that United States intelligence had infiltrated top levels of IS and was increasingly aware of the movements of senior figures.
Russian Federation intervened directly in the war in Syria last September, sending warplanes to back the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
According to the ministry’s statement, Adnani was among approximately 40 ISIS members killed on Tuesday by air strikes carried out by a Russian Su-34 bomber in Maaratat-Umm Khaush in Aleppo province.
Over 1,800 people were killed and 4,000 wounded in attacks overseen by al-Adnani, said a US official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was no authorized to speak to reporters.
US, Russia claim credit as Daesh spokesman killed in Syria was posted in World of TheNews International – https://www.thenews.com.pk on August 31, 2016 and was last updated on August 31, 2016.
But a U.S. defence official dismissed the remarks.
“It’s a joke” another defense official said bluntly.
The increasingly crowded airspace over Syria also has approached the point of global crisis, as evidenced last November when Turkey shot down a Russian jet for reportedly crossing into its airspace.
“That’s a joke”, a US defense official told AFP when asked about Moscow’s Adnani claim, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.
Mr Lister said ISIL’s announcement of Al Adnani’s death had described him as Qurayshi – referring to Prophet Mohammed’s tribe – in an indication of his importance.
He was a Syrian who was born in the northern province of Idlib and is believed to have been in his late 30s.
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He was a founding member of IS, which evolved from al-Qaeda in Iraq and in mid-2014 seized control of large parts of Syria and Iraq.
