French forces have killed the leader of the Islamic State in the Sahara, who was allegedly behind the killings of four members of the US service in 2017, French President Emmanuel Macron
Emmanuel Jean-Michel Macron: Afghanistan’s withdrawal fosters European distrust of the United States: French “New Wave” star Jean-Paul Belmondo dies Britain and France to propose safe haven for Kabul for people trying to flee Afghanistan MORE announced on Twitter on Wednesday.
“Adnan Abou Walid al Sahraoui, leader of the Islamic State terrorist group in the Greater Sahara, was neutralized by French forces. This is another important success in our fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel, “Macron wrote.
Adnan Abou Walid al Sahraoui, leader of the Islamic State terrorist group in the Greater Sahara, was neutralized by French forces. This is another important success in our fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel.
– Emmanuel Macron
“The nation is thinking this evening of all its heroes who died in France in the Sahel in the Serval and Barkhane operations, of the grieving families, of all their wounded. His sacrifice is not in vain. With our African, European and American partners, we will continue this struggle, “Macron continued.
The nation is thinking this evening of all its heroes who died for France in the Sahel in the Serval and Barkhane operations, of the grieving families, of all their wounded. His sacrifice is not in vain. With our African, European and American partners, we will continue this struggle.
– Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 15, 2021
Macron did not provide details in his tweets about how the operation was carried out. The Associated Press reported that the Islamic State subsidiary operates near the Niger-Mali border.
Four members of the US military service and four people associated with the army in Niger were killed during a 2017 attack, in which al-Sahrawi acknowledged his role. In addition, Macron’s office said al-Sahrawi personally ordered the killing of seven people: a driver six charity workers: in August 2020, Reuters reported.
The news comes amid a trial in Paris by a separate member of the Islamic State, accused of participating in a 2015 attack that claimed the lives of 130 people.
According to The Associated Press, in describing his profession as a “fighter for the Islamic State,” Salah Abdeslam said the killings were “nothing personal” during his trial on Wednesday.
“We fought against France, we attacked France, we aimed at the civilian population. It was nothing personal against them, ”he said. “I know my statement may be shocking, but it’s not about deepening the knife into the wound, but being honest with those who suffer immeasurable pain.”