Islamic State leader killed in Iraq; anonymous US official claims US behind the attack
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The United States Department of Defense released a statement saying that Abu Wahib, a top Islamic State leader in Iraq's Anbar province has been killed by a coalition airstrike.
Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook commented on the attack, saying that Abu Wahib and three others were killed when their vehicle was struck last Friday in the town of Rutba. Cook mentioned that Wahib's death constitues a serious blow to the group's leadership.
Cook said Wahib was a former member of al-Qaida in Iraq and has appeared in Islamic State execution videos. In the past, there have been unconfirmed reports suggesting that Wahib was targeted by strikes, but this is the first time the Pentagon has said he was killed.
Contrary to the Department of Defense's official statement, a senior US official has claimed the airstrike was actually an American operation. As the official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, he spoke on condition of anonymity.
