ISIS names its new leader as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi, confirms al-Baghdadi’s death

ISIS has for the first time confirmed the death of its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and named his successor.

An ISIS outlet announced on the messaging service Telegram that Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Qurashi was the group’s new leader and “caliph”.

Hashemi’s name is not known to security forces, and is believed to be a nom de guerre.

ISIS did not provide many details about the new leader or release a photo, but it did describe him as a “prominent figure in jihad”.

US special forces tracked down Baghdadi in north-west Syria at the weekend and attacked his compound.

ISIS also confirmed on Thursday the death of spokesman Abu al-Hasan al-Muhajir – who was killed in a joint operation in northern Syria by US and Syrian Kurdish forces hours after the one targeting Baghdadi. The Saudi national had been considered a potential successor.

The ISIS leader fled into a tunnel and killed himself with a suicide vest.

The Iraqi had a $25m bounty on his head and had been pursued by the US and its allies since the rise of ISIS five years ago.

Via NYT

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