Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, Daesh (ISIS)’s spokesman, was killed in Aleppo yesterday, Daesh media reported. He was inspecting fighters in the area when an airstrike killed him. Russia subsequently said one of their airstrikes was what killed the top Daesh fighter. It will undoubtedly be a tough blow for the militant group. Here are some facts about al-Adnani-the Daesh propagandist.
Humble beginnings
Adnani hails from the Idlib countryside in northwest Syria.
Veteran leadership
Adnani was one of the few current Daesh leaders to also be a founding member of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Daesh’s forefather organization. He was with the group during the infamous era of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who founded Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Prolific speaker
Adnani frequently released audio messages aimed at Daesh’s supporters and enemies. His speeches were feisty, powerful and violent. In a May audio posted by jihadi clearing house jihadology, for example, it only took him two minutes to call on Muslims to kill Jews.
Wanted: dead and not alive
The US had Adnani close to the top of their hitlist of Daesh members, and had a $5 million bounty on his head.
Doing time
Like Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Adnani once spent time in US custody in 2005 at the height of the Iraq War. Some believe the two met at this time.
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