ISIS names new leader after death of Muhammad Al Mawla

Abu Al Hasan Al Hashimi Al Qurayshi has taken over as leader of extremist group

The offshoot of Al Qaeda captured swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria between 2014 and 2017.
Powered by automated translation

The extremist group ISIS on Wednesday named its new leader, Abu Al Hasan Al Hashimi Al Qurayshi, a month after its previous leader blew himself up during a US raid.

A statement from the group only revealed the man's nom de guerre and confirmed the death of his predecessor.

The group's late leader, Muhammad Al Mawla, also known as Abu Ibrahim Al Hashimi Al Qurayshi, died in Syria on February 3.

Al Mawla, 45, lasted only two years in the post after succeeding long-time leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi in 2019.

Al Baghdadi also detonated a suicide vest during a US raid.

Al Qurayshi, an Iraqi, has never publicly addressed his fighters or followers, has avoided electronic communications and oversaw a move to fighting in small, devolved units in response to intense pressure from Iraqi and US-led forces.

Updated: March 10, 2022, 8:13 PM