ISIS Second in command killed in airstrike: Does it matter?

2015-08-21T16:55:20-04:00

The second-in-command of the Islamic State militant group was killed during a U.S. air strike in Iraq on Tuesday, the White House said on Friday, dealing a blow to the group that has sought to form a caliphate in the Middle East.

"Fadhil Ahmad al-Hayali, also known as Hajji Mutazz ... was killed in a U.S. military air strike on August 18 while traveling in a vehicle near Mosul, Iraq, along with an ISIL media operative known as Abu Abdullah," White House spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

"Al-Hayali's death will adversely impact ISIL's operations given that his influence spanned ISIL's finance, media, operations, and logistics," Price said, referring to the group by an acronym.

The White House said the dead leader was a "primary coordinator" for moving weapons, explosives, vehicles, and people between Iraq and Syria. He was in charge of operations in Iraq and helped plan the group's offensive in Mosul in June of last year.

The United States and its allies stage daily air strikes on Islamic State targets in the group's self-declared caliphate in Iraq and Syria. A drone strike last month killed a senior Islamic State leader in its Syrian stronghold of Raqqa.

One counter-terrorism specialist cautioned that the impact of the killing on Islamic State could be short-lived.

"My experience in looking at the Islamic State suggests they have demonstrated … an ability to move people up into positions" when high-ranking operatives are killed, said Seth Jones, a former Pentagon official now at the RAND Corporation.

Jones said how much territory Islamic State controls was more important in determining the group's power. "The key issue is territorial control," he said.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason in Edgartown, Mass., and Warren Strobel in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/21/us-mideast-crisis-islamicstate-idUSKCN0QQ22O20150821

What I will say is although they seem to have a lot of willing recruits, their leadership pool can be depleted. Most of their "talent" was trained in regimes that no longer exist.

White House: Islamic State second-in-command killed in U.S. air strike

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Aug 21 at 2015 4:59 PM

2015-08-21T16:59:06-04:00

We do not win by cutting off the head of the snake. The snake goes on and grows two more heads. It must be exterminated.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Aug 21 at 2015 5:11 PM

2015-08-21T17:11:36-04:00

Great invest and use of air dropped ordnance!

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Aug 21 at 2015 5:14 PM

2015-08-21T17:14:33-04:00

Sir - it matters to me - think I'll have a scotch tonight! :-)

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2015 5:24 PM

2015-08-21T17:24:02-04:00

Tuff luck for him. Now let's NUKE the rest of them.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 21 at 2015 5:55 PM

2015-08-21T17:55:33-04:00

I doubt it because they have an organizational structure.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Aug 21 at 2015 9:58 PM

2015-08-21T21:58:17-04:00

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member I liken it to the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High. "when the fry guy dies....."
I don't think it matters. There will always be another psycho ready to step in and fill the void! And, that is what I think of them, psycho.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Aug 21 at 2015 10:12 PM

2015-08-21T22:12:51-04:00

Another scum sucking woman hating low life will take his place shortly. You aren't dealing with rational human beings here. These idiots believe they have a calling to brutally murder innocent people in the name of their so-called "peaceful" god Allah. I frankly see no reason to call Islam a religion. It's more of a Sharia law based Political system/murder cult that seeks to control its followers and religion [coupled with fear and intimidation] is simply the vehicle it uses to spread its message of hate around the world.

Response by Maj William Gambrell made Aug 21 at 2015 10:16 PM

2015-08-21T22:16:02-04:00

No, the next person will fill the gap...they have no fear of death to taking leadership. It is time to scare the younger ones they influence into joining.

There is no way to educate the young ones via secular education before this escalates to the US.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Aug 21 at 2015 10:21 PM

2015-08-21T22:21:25-04:00

Those #2s sure get killed a lot!

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2015 10:30 AM

2015-08-22T10:30:13-04:00

It's like a hydra, you cut off the head, and another one pops up!

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Feb 14 at 2018 8:10 PM

2018-02-14T20:10:20-05:00

Maybe it does matter.. in the article it said most of it’s talent was gotten from territories that no longer exist.. reads as a plus for the U.S. if that’s. Where he came from..