The United States have killed Abd al-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli( Arabic: عبد الرحمن مصطفى القادولي), alternatively known as Abu Ala al-Afri (أبو علاء العفري), the finance minister and number two in the ISIS (IS, ISIL or Daesh) terror network leadership.
He was as well responsible for supporting ISIS attacks abroad.
His death was confirmed by U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter. He said:
“We are systematically eliminating ISIL’s cabinet.Striking leadership is necessary, but as you know it’s far from sufficient. As you know leaders can be replaced. These leaders have been around for a long time — they are senior and experienced and eliminating them is an important objective and result.They will be replaced and we will continue to go after their leadership.The removal of this ISIL leader will hamper the organization’s ability for them to conduct operations both inside and outside of Iraq and Syria. The momentum of this campaign is clearly on our side.”
Abu Ala al-Afri was listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S Treasury Department in May 2014.
On 5 May 2015, the U.S. State Department announced a reward of up to US$7 million for information leading to al-Afri’s capture or death.
This is the second high-level-kill of ISIS leaders after American strikes have eliminated the ISIS minister of war, Omar al-Shishani.
The US administration needs good news after the Brussels terror events, as it is under fire from Senators like John McCain to have no working strategy against ISIS.
