Latest military reports indicate that a prominent leader of the Islamic State terrorist group alongside four other extremist fighters were on Sunday 4th September 2016 killed in a U.S.-led coalition air raids near IS-held Mosul in northern Iraq.
According to a security source, the air raids destroyed four Islamic State positions near the newly freed town of Qayyara located about 50 kilometers from south of Mosul.
The source further reveals that the prominent leader of the Islamic State, among the five killed terrorists was a close confidant of the top and IS Emir, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
The source also says that several militants believed to have been injured in the air sorties from the U.S.-led coalition.
Qayyara which has been one IS stronghold was recaptured on August 25. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared its liberations after joint forces defeating the extremist militants.
Regaining control of the town and the airbase is of much importance as it would help Iraqi government forces in dislodging Islamic State terrorists from Mosul, one of their last major strongholds.
