One of ISIL leaders killed in US airstrike

One of ISIL leaders, Tariq al-Harzi, known as the leader of suicide bombers, was eliminated in a coalition airstrike in Syria last month, a US official said, reports the Patria News Agency.

Al-Harzi played a leading role in ISIL, overseeing the recruitment and delivery of weapons to Iraq and Syria, CNN writes.
The Tunisian, believed to be one of the first foreigners to join ISIL, also helped organize the Sunni extremist group that sows tragedy with the use of bombs in Iraq, the US Department of Security said.

"This is a big deal. The killing of this leader will significantly damage their operations for at least some time," said an official.

Al-Harzi was killed in the city of Shaddadi in Syria on June 16, said spokesman Jeff Davis. He had been on the terror list since last year, and the US Department of Security offered a $3 million reward for information about him. Al-Harzi's brother, also an ISIL operative, was killed in a US airstrike in Mosul on June 15.

Tariq al-Harzi was, however, a more important target in ISIL. It is believed that he was in charge and responsible for terrorist operations outside of Syria and Iraq, operations that have become much more significant in recent months as ISIL consolidated its strongholds in Libya and established branches in Nigeria and Egypt, along with some other areas.

He organized the procurement and shipment of weapons from Libya to Syria, the Pentagon said.