Senior ISIS Leader Killed After Iraqi Air Force Launches Air Strikes In Mosul

A senior ISIS leader, identified as Radwan Taleb al-Hamdouni, has been killed following a series of air strikes on the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. According to Reuters, the death of the ISIS leader had been confirmed by local residents and a medical representative in the city.

Radwan was described as the Islamic State’s “Wali” for the city of Mosul. The position is equivalent to the position of a governor. He was the organization’s leader in the city of Mosul after it was taken over by the ISIS back in June this year. According to Al Arabiya, Radwan was killed in his car along with his driver on Wednesday, in what is likely seen as a targeted air strike against the ISIS leader.

Hamdouni was buried on the same day with a large number of his supporters reportedly attending his funeral. There were large number of people seen at the funeral who are believed to be the supporters of ISIS in Mosul. They were carrying and waving the now-famous ISIS flags. The U.S. military has not confirmed the death of Radwan. Two U.S. military generals said they were unaware about the reports about the death of the ISIS leader.

The killing of Radwan could be a major blow to the ISIS, as he was one of the most influential leaders within the group. The killing of Radwan is also important because of the fact that the supreme leader of the ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, had delivered a sermon in a mosque in Mosul back in July of this year. That sermon was the only public appearance of the ISIS leader, who has been since then made the caliph of the Islamic State caliphate, which the ISIS has claimed to establish. Several people within the military circles are of the belief that Baghdadi could still be in Mosul.

Earlier, reports of an injury to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi were dismissed by ISIS loyalists after an audio message was released by the man himself.

While Mosul is still under the complete control of ISIS, the Iraqi military, with the help others, are looking to gain back lost territories from the group. With the death of the senior ISIS leader in the city, the possibility of this happening in the near future has increased.

Over the course of the past few weeks, several doubts are being raised about the strength of the ISIS and its ability to fight in the long run.

[Image Via ABC Australia]