CNN: Abu Omar Shishani Killed Due to Injuries Sustained

Two American officials told CNN on March 14 that Abu Omar Shishani, a senior commander of the Islamic State group, who was injured in a U.S. airstrike last week, has died from his injuries. Last week, Pentagon officials had informed Reuters that Omar Shishani, known as the 'Minister of War' of the Islamic State, was targeted near the town of Shaddadi in Hasakah province. Following the report, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that Omar Shishani was not killed in the recent U.S. attack but was severely injured and transferred to a hospital in Raqqa, the Islamic State's center. However, unnamed American officials told CNN that this senior commander was severely wounded during the airstrike and died from those injuries. Pentagon officials did not provide further details on how they confirmed Abu Omar Shishani's death. Nonetheless, CNN emphasized that at least 12 other Islamic State fighters were also killed in these airstrikes. According to the report, the airstrike occurred while Omar Shishani was attending a meeting with other ISIS commanders. CNN reported that Omar Shishani had gone to inspect the Shaddadi front because the group's forces had suffered heavy casualties in that area in recent weeks. The U.S. government had previously set a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of this Islamic State commander. Omar Shishani, whose real name is Tarkhan Batirashvili, was a seasoned member of the Georgian army. Peter Cook, a Pentagon spokesperson, had previously stated about Omar Shishani that Tarkhan Batirashvili is one of the experienced commanders of ISIS who has led the group's forces in many battles in Syria and Iraq.