Islamic State: Abu Muhammad al-Adnani 'killed in Aleppo'

Adnani was mostly known for his calls for lone-wolf attacks in the West

The chief strategist of the Islamic State group, whose calls for attacks against the West during Ramadan led to mass bloodshed, has been killed in Syria, IS-affiliated media say.

The Amaq news agency said Abu Muhammad al-Adnani died in Aleppo province. The Pentagon said an air strike had targeted Adnani in the town of al Bab and the results were being assessed.


Reports of his death come as IS is suffering a series of military reverses in both Syria and Iraq. Adnani - who was also the group's spokesman - was "martyred while surveying the operations to repel the military campaigns against Aleppo", Amaq said, without giving details about how he died.

Fighting has escalated around the city in recent weeks, with rebels breaking a siege by government forces and Syrian and Russian warplanes bombing rebel-held areas.

Islamic State group - the full story
Is besieged Aleppo facing last gasp?

In a statement, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook described Adnani as the "principal architect of Isil's external operations", using an alternative name for the group.

He had "co-ordinated the movement of Isil fighters, directly encouraged lone-wolf attacks on civilians and members of the military and actively recruited" new members, Mr Cook said.

He added: "We are still assessing the results of the strike, but al-Adnani's removal from the battlefield would mark another significant blow to Isil.'