Iraq kills top Islamic State commander, a week after deadly Baghdad blasts
- The death of Abu Yasar al-Issawi, the Isis chief in Iraq, was announced on Twitter by the country’s prime minister
- At least 32 people died and over 100 were injured in twin suicide bombings at a busy open-air market in Baghdad last week
Iraqi security forces have killed a senior commander of the Islamic State group, the prime minister said on Thursday, a week after the rare, twin suicide bombing by Isis militants killed dozens in Baghdad.
The Islamic State group had quickly claimed responsibility for the January 21 blasts at a busy open-air market in the Iraqi capital. At least 32 people were killed and more than 100 were wounded.
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi tweeted on Thursday that an “intelligence-led” operation in northern Iraq killed 39-year-old Abu Yasar al-Issawi, deputy commander and Isis chief in Iraq.
The country’s security forces have faced mounting pressure after the January 21 attack in central Baghdad, with many saying the attack – the first to strike the Iraqi capital by the militant group in three years – was a failure of Iraq’s intelligence.
“I gave my word to pursue the Daesh terrorists, we gave them a thundering response,” al-Kadhimi said, referring to Isis by its Arabic acronym.