Top IS commander targeted in coalition strike in Syria: US official

A top Islamic State (IS) group commander, Omar al-Shishani, was targeted in a coalition air strike in Syria, a US official said on Tuesday, adding that he likely was killed.

A US official speaking on condition of anonymity said al-Shishani "likely died" in the assault by waves of US warplanes and drones, along with 12 other IS fighters.

The air strike took place on Friday near the Syrian town of al-Shaddadeh, which was formerly held by IS but was captured by the US-backed, mostly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Associated Press reported.

Al-Shishani is the nom de guerre of Tarkhan Batirashvili, an ethnic Chechen from the former Soviet state of Georgia who has a $5 million US bounty on his head. He is widely known as “Omar the Chechen". 

According to the Wall Street Journal, al-Shishani joined the IS group after leaving a position in an intelligence unit in the US-backed Georgian army.

Reports of al-Shishani’s death have been spread by Kurdish armed groups in the past, only to be followed by videos featuring the IS leader, the Journal added.

Known for his flowing red beard, he is believed to be one of IS's top military commanders.

The US Treasury, which designated him a foreign terrorist fighter in 2014, said he maintained "unique authority" within IS.

He was the group's top commander and leader in northern Syria with about 1,000 foreign fighters under his command, according to the US Treasury.

It said he also oversaw a prison near Raqqa where foreign hostages may have been held.