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ISIS Leader Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi Killed In Syrian Rebel Attack

Photo by Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Image

Devan Bugbee Contributor
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Islam State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) leader Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi died on the battlefield in mid-October, an ISIS spokesperson announced Wednesday, making him the second leader of the organization to die this year.

Al-Qurayshi died in an attack orchestrated by Syrian rebels in the province of Daraa, the United States military claimed, according to The Washington Post. The military did not clarify why it took more than a month for anyone to announce al-Qurayshi’s death. (RELATED: Israel Declares Terror Attack After Twin Bus Bombing Kills Teen, Injures At Least 18)

The terrorist organization’s spokesman, Abu Omar al-Muhajer, did not give direct details about al-Qurayshi’s death other than that he died on the battlefield, the New York Post reported. No group has claimed responsibility for the jihadist’s death. “He died fighting the enemies of God,” al-Muhajer stated, according to the outlet.

Al-Qurayshi’s death came as ISIS was increasing its sleeper cell attacks in Iraq and Syria, large swaths of which previously fell within the ISIS caliphate, according to the outlet.

“ISIS remains a threat to the region,” the U.S. Central Command stated, according to ABC News. “CENTCOM and our partners remain focused on the enduring defeat of ISIS.”

Following al-Quarayshi’s death, ISIS named Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurayshi as its new leader, al-Muhajer said, according to the New York Post.

The U.S. previously killed ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quarayshi in a Delta Force strike in northwestern Syria in Feb. 2022.