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Isis latest: At least three leaders of extremist militant group killed in US airstrikes Isis latest: At least three leaders of extremist militant group killed in US airstrikes in Iraq
(35 minutes later)
At least three senior leaders of Isis have been killed in US airstrikes in Iraq in the past month and a half, US defense officials announced today. At least three senior leaders of Isis have been killed in US-led airstrikes in Iraq in the past month and a half, a US defense official said today.
General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Wall Street Journal  in an interview that Haji Mutazz, a deputy to Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi; Abd al-Basit, the top military commander; and Radwin Talib, who is in control of Isis in Iraq, were killed. Airstrikes carried out between 3 December and 9 December killed Haji Mutazz, a deputy to Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi; and Abd al-Basit, the top military commander, General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Wall Street Journal.
Mr Dempsey told the newspaper that the deaths of Mutazz and al-Basit would deal a particularly serious blow to Isis' "planning and command and control". In later November, an attack killed mid-level commander Radwin Talib, who is in control of Iraq's second city Mosul, he revealed.
However, the official said the hindrance may only be temporary, as Isis is likely to have replacements lined up. Mr Dempsey told the newspaper that the strikes were aimed at dampening the group’s ability to carry out attacks, supply its fighters, and finance its operations.
Dempsey said the senior leaders were killed in recent weeks as part of expanding effort with partner nations to combat the militants. The subsequent deaths of Mutazz and al-Basit would deal a particularly serious blow to Isis' "planning and command and control".
Other defence officials told the newspaper that the recent strikes are beginning to significantly weakn the group's leadership structure in Iraq.
However, Ahmed Ali, an analyst at Washington-based think tank the Institute of the Study of War, said the hindrance may only be temporary, as Isis is likely to have replacements lined up.
Mirroring Mr Dempsey's analysis, Mr Ali said that that Mr Mutazz was one of Mr Baghdadi's "closest and most senior aides.”
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