Pentagon: Daesh information minister killed in strike

By Kasim Ileri

WASHINGTON

One of the “most senior leaders” Daesh leaders was killed earlier this month in Syria, the U.S. said Friday.

“On Sept. 7, coalition forces conducted a precision strike near Raqqah, Syria, that targeted and killed ‘Dr. Wa'il’, also known as Wa'il Adil Hasan Salman al-Fayad,” Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement.

Cook did not specify the kind of strike nor how the U.S. confirmed Wa’il’s death.

Wa’il was operating as the minister of information for Daesh and a member of the militant group’s top leadership board, Shura Council, according to Cook.

“Wa'il oversaw ISIL's production of terrorist propaganda videos showing torture and executions,” he added.

According to Cook, Wa’il was “a close associate” of Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, the alleged Daesh spokesman who was targeted and killed last month by the coalition.