The leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Khurasan Qari Hekmat has been killed in an airstrike in northern Jawzjan province of Afghanistan.
The 209th Shaheen Corps of the Afghan Military in the North said Qari Hekmat was killed in an airstrike of the US forces in Darzab district.
A statement by Shaheen Corps said the airstrike was carried out at least 11:58 am local time in Sar Dara area of Darzab on Thursday.
The statement further added that another member of the terror group was also killed in the airstrike but there are no words regarding his identity.
In the meantime, Shaheen Corps said the terror group has appointed Mawlavi Habibur Rehman as the new leader of the group to replace Qari Hekmatyar.
According to Shaheen Corps, Mawlavi Rahman is orignally a resident of the Sholgar district of northern Balkh province.
The anti-government armed militant and terrorist groups including ISIS group has not commented regarding the report so far.
This comes as counter-terrorism operations including airstrikes are underway against the terror group in Jawzjan as well as other parts of the country.
A commander of the terror group along with other militants was killed during the Afghan and US Special Forces operations in this province last month.
Pictures below.
cc: KPNA
standout in the middle(circled red) Qari Hekmat
