Trump says Baghdadi's 'number one replacement' dead

The man most likely to succeed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to helm the Daesh terrorist group has been killed by American forces, US President Donald Trump said Tuesday.

“Just confirmed that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s number one replacement has been terminated by American troops,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Most likely would have taken the top spot – Now he is also Dead!”

The president did not specify who the individual was, nor give any details on the mission that led to his death.

A US official who spoke to Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity said Trump was referring to Daesh spokesman Abu Hasan al-Muhajir.

READ: US wants to bolster fight against Daesh after its leader’s death

His death was first reported by multiple American media organisations on Monday. Al-Muhajir was reportedly killed in an attack in northern Syria, with some media reports ascribing his death to an airstrike.

Trump announced al-Baghdadi’s death on Sunday following a late-night special operation raid in northwestern Syria’s Idlib province.