US, Russia tussle over who killed IS propaganda chief
September 01, 2016  03:25
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Islamic State group spokesman and top strategist Abu Mohamed al-Adnani has been killed in Syria, the group said, with both Washington and Moscow claiming credit.

Adnani was IS's propaganda chief, top recruiter and the reported mastermind of a string of IS-claimed attacks in the West.

In Washington, the Pentagon said US-led coalition forces had targeted Adnani in an air strike in Syria's Aleppo province yesterday but did not immediately confirm his death.

Russia's military said one of its air strikes had killed Adnani in a bombing raid yesterday that left up to 40 IS jihadists dead - a claim dismissed by US officials as a joke.

Regardless of who was responsible, analysts say his death will be a major bow to IS, which has suffered a series of setbacks this year including territorial losses in Syria and Iraq and the killings of other top figures.

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