ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 16 (UPI) — A U.S.-led airstrike in Syria earlier this month killed a high-ranking official in the Islamic State militant group, the Pentagon said Friday.
According to the Department of Defense, the strike killed IS information minister Wael Adel Salman al-Fayad, also known as “Dr. Wa’il” on Sept. 7 in the group’s de facto capital, Raqqa.
“Wa’il oversaw ISIL’s production of terrorist propaganda videos showing torture and executions,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
“Wa’il was a close associate of Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, the ISIL spokesman and leader who plotted and inspired external terror attacks,” it added. “Al-Adnani was successfully struck and killed by coalition forces Aug. 30.”
The operative was also a prominent member of Senior Shura Council — the Islamic State’s leadership group, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said.
“The removal of ISIL’s senior leaders degrades its ability to retain territory, and its ability to plan, finance, and direct attacks inside and outside of the region,” Cook said.
