Islamic State deputy leader killed in US air strike

Also killed in the air strike was an Islamic State media operative known as Abu Abdullah.

The United States-led coalition has killed the deputy leader of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Hajji Mutazz.

The death of Mutazz, who is also known as Fadhil Ahmad al-Hayali, removes an important figure in the terror group’s leadership structure. Price said that al-Hayali was responsible for moving weapons and explosives between Iraq and Syria, and helped plan the operation to seize the northern Iraqi city of Mosul in 2014.

The second-in-command of the Islamic State militant group has been killed by a US air strike. The U.S. also believes Mutazz was prominently involved in directing ISIS’ financial operations.

Alberto Fernandez, vice president at the Middle East Media Research Institute, said he is confident that, this time, al-Hayali is actually dead.

“My experience in looking at the Islamic State suggests they have demonstrated an ability to move people up into positions” when high-ranking operatives are killed, said Seth Jones, a former Pentagon official.

“He supported ISIL operations in both countries and was in charge of ISIL operations in Iraq, where he was instrumental in planning operations over the past two years, including the ISIL offensive in Mosul in June 2014”, it said.

Jones said how much territory Islamic State controls was more important in determining the group’s power.