South Front
The former hideout of ISIS leader Abu al-Hussein. Source: the Anadolu Agency.
On April 30, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the country’s intelligence service had killed the leader of ISIS in Syria.
In a broadcast, Erdogan said Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) had been tracking the terrorist group’s leader, known as Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurshi, “for a long time.”
Abu al-Hussein was named the leader of ISIS following the death of his predecessor, Abu al-Hasan al-Hashmi al-Qurayshi, who was killed last October during a joint operation by Syrian government forces and local fighters in the southern Syrian governorate of Daraa.
“This person was neutralized in the operation carried out by MIT yesterday in Syria,” Erdogan said. “From now on, we will continue our fight without discrimination against terrorist organizations.”
The president added that Turkey’s fight against terrorism contributes to Europe’s security, claiming that Europe “is not aware of this or does not want to be aware of it.”
A report by Reuters on May 2 said that Abu al-Hussein detonated a suicide vest killing himself while MIT special forces were raiding his hideout in the Turkish-occupied town of Jindires in the northern Syrian governorate of Aleppo. One Turkish security official told the news agency that there were calls for the ISIS leader to surrender but no response.
The MIT conducted the raid after determining he would soon relocate, the official said, adding that Qurashi detonated his suicide vest when he realised he would be captured.
Next to nothing was known about Abu al-Hussien. However, at the time of his appointment, ISIS described him as an “old fighter.”
ISIS is yet to comment on the Turkish claims. The terrorist group usually acknowledged losses in its upper ranks weeks later. The announcement of Abu al-Hussien death by president Erdogan came as his party, the Justice and Development, is making final preparations for the Turkish general elections set to be held later this month.
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