BEIRUT // ISIL’s spokesman, Abu Mohamed Al Adnani, was killed while monitoring military operations in the Syrian province of Aleppo, the extremist group said yesterday.
“Sheikh Abu Mohamed Al Adnani, the spokesman of the Islamic State, was martyred while surveying operations to repel the military campaigns against Aleppo”, said the ISIL-linked Amaq news agency, quoting a “military source”.
Al Adnani was one of ISIL’s longest-serving officials.
Meanwhile, United Nations envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura said yesterday that talks between US and Russian officials this week are crucial for restoring a ceasefire in the country.
In all-day talks in Geneva last Friday, US secretary of state John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov failed to reach a breakthrough deal on military cooperation and a nationwide cessation of hostilities. The two countries said they would continue talks to hammer out final details.
Mr de Mistura also reiterated a call for a 48-hour humanitarian pause in Aleppo.
* Agencies
