Trump says Baghdadi’s successor has been killed by US forces

U.S. President Donald Trump reacts after signing an executive order during an appearance at the International Association of Chiefs of Police annual conference and expo in Chicago | Reuters

In a significant announcement, US President Donald Trump tweeted on Tuesday that an unnamed successor to former ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed by American forces.

“Just confirmed that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s number one replacement has been terminated by American troops. Most likely would have taken the top spot - Now he is also Dead!” Trump tweeted.

Trump did not identify who the person was or any other details of the operation that killed him.

Various names have been speculated as Baghdadi's successor.

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Abdullah Qardash, known to the US government as Sa’id Abdal-Rahman al-Mawla, is listed on the US state department’s Rewards for Justice website as Baghdadi’s successor.

The Washington Post quoted Iran Advisory Council member Husham Al Hashimi as saying either the Saudi Abu Saleh al-Jazrawi or the Turkish Abu Othman al-Tunisi could take over.

Details of the US operation that allegedly killed ISIS’s next chief are awaited.

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