Smoke rises in the Syrian town of Kobani as it is seen from the Turkish border town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, June 25, 2015.
Smoke rises in the Syrian town of Kobani as it is seen from the Turkish border town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, June 25, 2015. Islamic State fighters launched simultaneous attacks against the Syrian government and Kurdish militia overnight, moving back onto the offensive after losing ground in recent days to Kurdish-led forces near the capital of their "caliphate." Reuters/Ali Sahin

A U.S. official confirmed a senior Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, leader Tariq Al-Harzi, a man known as the "emir of suicide bombers," died in a coalition strike in Syria last month. Al-Harzi was one of the important leaders of ISIS as he handled recruitment of members and weapons into Iraq and Syria.

"This was a big get. It will be very disruptive to their operation for at least some period of time," CNN national security commentator and former chairman of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee Mike Rogers said. Spokesman for the Department of Defense Capt. Jeff Davis confirmed Al-Harzi was killed in Shaddadi, Syria, on June 16. He had been on the U.S. Designated Terrorist List since last year and the State Department had offered a US$3 million [$3.99 million] reward for anyone who could give information on him.

Pentagon announced last month Al-Harzi's brother Ali Awni al-Harzi, an ISIS operative, was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Mosul, Iraq, on June 15. In 2013, Tariq Al-Harzi helped gain US$2 million donation for ISIS from a Qatar-based supporter, according to U.S. State Department. He was suspected of involvement on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that left the ambassador and three other Americans dead in 2012.

Meanwhile, CNN reports U.S. officials and Tunisian authorities believe a town in Tunisia, Kasserine, to be a veritable pipeline of recruits for the terrorist group. The town is thought to be the meeting point of the terrorist group as it is 30 km (18 miles) from Tunisia's border with Algeria, and the ridges and crevices of the Chaambi Mountains serve as covers for the terrorist training camps.

On June 11, Ali Shukri Amin, a teenager from Virginia, U.S., pleaded guilty in federal court for providing support to ISIS. He will face 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on Aug. 28.

When Amin appeared to the judge in a blue jail, he only responded “guilty, Sir” when asked about his plea. He answered “no” when he was asked if he was innocent.

For questions/comments regarding the article, you may email the writer at saraht.ibtimes@gmail.com.

RELATED STORIES