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1st LD: Key IS leader killed in U.S. raid -- Pentagon

Xinhua, March 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Pentagon announced on Friday a senior Islamic State (IS) commander in Syria believed to be in line to lead the extremist group had been killed by the United States.

Abd al-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli, also known as Haji Imam or al-Afri, served as IS's finance minister, and was killed this week by U.S. military, U.S. defense chief Ash Carter said here at a Pentagon briefing.

"We've taken out the leader who oversees the funding for ISIL's operations, hurting their ability to pay fighters and hire recruits," said Carter, adding that the U.S.-led coalition was "systematically eliminating" IS's cabinet.

Carter refused to offer details about the operation against al-Afri, whom many analysts consider the extremist group's second-in-command.

Meanwhile, Carter acknowledged that striking IS leadership was far from sufficient, noting that "leaders can be replaced." Enditem