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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-led airstrikes in Iraq in the past month and a half, a US defense official said today. | |
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. | |
In later November, an attack killed mid-level commander Radwin Talib, who is in control of Iraq's second city Mosul, he revealed. | |
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. | |
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.” | |
More to follow | More to follow |