He had been living in Turkey with his Syrian wife under his brother’s identity, one of these officials said. Iraqi and American intelligence officials then spent weeks interrogating him, learning the details and whereabouts of other ISIS leaders in hiding, the officials said. The American-led coalition used this information to launch an airstrike in mid-April that killed 39 suspected Islamic State members near Hajin, in the Deir al-Zour district of Syria, the second official said. They persuaded Mr. Ithawi to contact several of his Islamic State colleagues who had been hiding in Syria and lure them across the border, the officials said. Two other Iraqis were also arrested, the officials said.

Source: New York Times May 09, 2018 20:21 UTC