US special operations forces have reportedly killed Ibrahim Qurayshi, leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

In a statement on Thursday, US President Joe Biden said the ISIS leader was “removed” in a counterterrorism mission that took place overnight in north-western Syria.

“Last night at my direction, U.S. military forces in northwest Syria successfully undertook a counterterrorism operation to protect the American people and our Allies, and make the world a safer place,” the statement reads.

“Thanks to the skill and bravery of our Armed Forces, we have taken off the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi — the leader of ISIS. All Americans have returned safely from the operation.”

Biden said he would deliver remarks to the American people later on Thursday.

A senior US administration official confirmed that Qurayshi was killed in the raid, according to Reuters,

“At the beginning of the operation the terrorist target exploded a bomb that killed him and members of his own family, including women and children,” the official was quoted as saying.

After the killing of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in October 2019 by US troops — also in a raid in north Syria — the group had named Qurayshi as his successor.

Rtn. Victor Ojelabi

Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.