BEIRUT (AP) — The leader of the Islamic State group, Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, was killed in battle recently, the group’s spokesman said in audio released Wednesday.

Abu al-Hasan’s predecessor, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, died in February during a US counterterrorism raid in northwest Syria. Qurayshi blew himself up as US forces approached his compound.

Al-Muhajer said Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurayshi was named as the group’s new leader. “He is one of the veteran warriors and one of the loyal sons of the Islamic State,” al-Muhajer said.

The leader of ISIS, Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, was killed in battle recently, the group’s spokesperson revealed Wednesday — making him the second commander of the extremist g… ...