The leader’s death has raised questions over who would take on his roles. ISIS announced the death of its leader Abu Mohammed al-Adnani in a U.S. air strike in Syria on August 30, a news that was later confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry and the Pentagon. SITE - an intelligence group that tracks the activity of potential jihadist on the Internet has said that Amaq News Agency had confirmed the news. Al-Adnani had announced the establishment of ISIS in Iraq and Syria two years ago.
One of the groups’ most senior members, he was believed to have planned and carried out ISIS’s operations outside Iraq and Syria too. Hailed as a martyr by his followers, his death leaves a gaping hole in the group’s military organisation; a role that could soon be filled up by one of the dozens of hopeful key militants who are willing to take his place. NY Post reported that the not-for-profit policy organisation ‘The Counter Extremism Project’ has compiled a list of militants who could potentially take over as ISIS’ leader.
The list includes former Iraqi army officer Abu Ahmad Al-Alwani who oversaw the group’s activities in the Diyala province; Ayad Al-Jumaili, a senior leader who is the head of an internal ISIS security unit; Gulmurod Khalimov, the minister of war; governor of Raqqa, Abu Luqman; ISIS’ chief religious adviser Turki Al-Binali. Meanwhile, the Pentagon on Friday confirmed the death of ISIS’ minister of information, Wa’il Adil Hasan Salman al-Fayad, also known as Dr Wa’il.
The news came weeks after the death of ISIS leader, who according to the Pentagon, was close to Al-Fayad. “The removal of ISIS’s senior leaders degrades its ability to retain territory and its ability to play, finance, and direct attacks inside and outside the region,” Peter Cook, a spokesperson for Pentagon, was quoted as saying. “We will continue to work with our coalition partners to build momentum in the campaign to deal ISIS a lasting defeat.” In the statement released, Pentagon said that Al-Fayad “was a prominent member of its Senior Shura Council” and he “oversaw ISIS’s production of terrorist propaganda views showing torture and executions.”
REVEALED! The evil leaders of the future ISIS begins headhunting for new boss
