Trump says likely Baghdadi successor killed by US troops

US president on Sunday announced the killing of Baghdadi by American special operations forces in northwestern Syria

WASHINGTON DC: President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the US military had killed the person who likely would have succeeded Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as the leader of Islamic State (IS), also known as Da'ish.

"Just confirmed that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's number one replacement has been terminated by American troops," Trump wrote on Twitter.

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

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2019

"Most likely would have taken the top spot." Trump did not specify who he was referring to, but the United States on Monday confirmed the killing of Abu al-Hassan al-Muhajir, Islamic State spokesperson and a high-ranking figure within the militant group.

Trump on Sunday announced the killing of Baghdadi by US special operations forces in northwestern Syria.

With Baghdadi gone, who is heir to the 'caliph' of Da'ish

A senior State Department official said on Monday that al-Muhajir was killed in a separate operation.

The Syrian Kurdish YPG militia said on Sunday that al-Muhajir was killed in a joint raid between Kurdish-led and US forces in northern Syria.