Abu Ala al-Afri, Iraqi militant, Dead

  Military

Abd al-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli died on March 25, 2016.

He was the Deputy leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Reportedly he ascended to this position following unconfirmed reports of current leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi being severely injured by an airstrike, leaving him unable to retain direct leadership of the group.

Also reported, that he would be the successor of Baghdadi.

Abu Ala al-Afri had+ listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S Treasury Department, on May 14, 2014.

The following year on 5 May 2015, the U.S. Department of State announced a reward of up to US$7 million for information leading to al-Afri’s capture or death.

The United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter in a joint media briefing with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford announced al-Qaduli’s death on 25 March . correcting previous Iraqi claims.

The Special Forces commanded by JSOC on the morning of Thursday, March 24, 2016, originally planned to capture Abd al-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli in eastern Syria while he was traveling in a vehicle near the Syrian-Iraqi border coming from Al-Raqqa with three other IS fighters.

He was long pursued by US special forces in helicopters, a firefight ensued and all fighters and al-Qaduli a.k.a. al-Afri were killed.

The US commandos also seized electronics and other documents during the operation.

Abu Ala al-Afri passed away in March 2016.