Abu Omar al-Shishani aka Omar the Chechen, Islamic State’s “minister of war”, was killed in combat in the Iraqi city of Shirqat, south of Mosul.
According to a news agency ‘Amaq News’ that supports the militant group said on Wednesday that Shishani had likely been killed in a US air strike in Syria, but this was the first time the group appeared to confirm his death.
However, no other news agency has not not independently verify the statement from Amaq news agency.
Islamic State regularly uses Amaq news agency to issue reports and which denied Shishani’s death after the Pentagon’s comments in March.
Islamic State supporters exchanged notes of praise and condolence on social media, including pictures of the ginger-bearded fighter, and pledged to launch a fresh offensive in his honor.
Officials at the Pentagon said they were aware of Wednesday’s report but could not confirm or deny it.
Hisham al-Hashimi, a Baghdad-based security expert who advises the Iraqi government, said a source in Shirqat confirmed Shishani had been killed there along with several other militants.
Shishani is among America’s most wanted militants under a US programme that offered up to $5 million for information to help remove him from the battlefield.
Shishani Born in 1986 in Georgia, had a reputation as a close military adviser to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
