Killing of Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi

Between August 17 to 21, 2021, French forces under Operation Barkhane launched an operation to attack Islamic State in the Greater Sahara bases located in the Dangarous forest near In-Delimane, Mali. The battle killed the commander of ISGS, Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi.[1]

Killing of Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi
Part of Mali War
Date19-21 August 2021
Location
Dangarous forest, near Indelimane, Mali
Result French victory
Belligerents
France Islamic State in the Greater Sahara
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi  †
Strength
20 men Unknown
Casualties and losses
None ~12 killed

Prelude

Two Islamic State fighters captured on July 14 reported the presence of ISGS camps in the Dangarous Forest, a notoriously wooded area that is difficult to access.[1][2] On August 17, French intelligence conducted initial operations in the forest, with a Reaper drone killing two armed men on a motorcycle.[3][1] One of the two killed turned out to be Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, the leader of Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, although this was not immediately identifiable.[4][3][5]

The second part of the operation was carried out between August 20 and August 22.[1][3] About twenty men, supported by drones and helicopters, intercepted two more men on motorcycles.[1] After a short firefight, the two men were killed. French forces then proceeded to launch airstrikes on ISGS positions inside the forest, which continued after the French soldiers retreated.[4]

Losses and aftermath

According to the French government, around a dozen jihadists were killed.[3]

On September 16, 2021, French president Emmanuel Macron released a statement saying that the leader of ISGS had been "neutralized" in a strike by French forces in August.[6][7] French Minister of Defence Florence Parly stated that the killing of al-Sahrawi "deals a decisive blow to the command of Daesh in the Sahel because ISGS will no doubt have difficulty replacing its emir with a figure of the same stature."[3]

References
  1. "Mort du chef jihadiste Adnan Abou Walid al-Sahraoui, ennemi numéro 1 de la France au Sahel". France 24 (in French). 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  2. www.defense.gouv.fr https://www.defense.gouv.fr/error/404. Retrieved 2023-01-31. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. "La France dit avoir tué le chef du groupe État islamique au Sahel". Reuters. 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  4. Macé, Célian. "Mort de l'émir de Daech Al-Sahraoui : Barkhane frappe le jihad à la tête". Libération (in French). Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  5. "Sahel: que sait-on de la mort d'al-Sahraoui, chef du groupe État islamique au Grand Sahara?". RFI (in French). 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  6. "Les forces françaises ont tué Abou Walid Al-Sahraoui, chef de l'EI au Grand Sahara". France 24 (in French). 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  7. "Le numéro un de l'organisation Etat islamique au Grand Sahara tué par les forces françaises". Le Monde.fr (in French). 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2023-01-31.


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