French forces kill Islamic State leader in Greater Sahara
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The jihadist leader was wanted by the US as well
French forces killed head of Islamic State in greater Sahara, France President Emmanuel Macron tweeted on Thursday. The terrorist was wanted for deadly attacks on US soldiers and foreign aid workers.
Macron said in his tweet that Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi was "neutralised by French forces"
"This is another major success in our fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel," Macron said, without giving the location or details of the operation.
Adnan Abou Walid al Sahraoui, chef du groupe terroriste État islamique au Grand Sahara a été neutralisé par les forces françaises. Il s’agit d’un nouveau succès majeur dans le combat que nous menons contre les groupes terroristes au Sahel.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 15, 2021
Sahrawi was behind killing of French aid workers in 2020. He was also wanted by the United States over deadly 2017 attack on US troops in Niger.
Islamic State in the Greater Sahara is blamed for most of the jihadist attacks in the Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso region.
The flashpoint "tri-border" area is frequently targeted by ISGS and the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM).
ISGS has carried out deadly attacks targeting civilians and soldiers in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.
The United States had offered a $5 million reward for information on the whereabouts of Sahrawi, who was wanted over an October 4, 2017 attack in Niger that killed four US Special Forces and four Niger troops.