President Emmanuel Macron reveals that French forces have neutralized Adnan Abou Walid al-Sahraoui, leader of the ISIL terrorist group in the Greater Sahara.
Adnan Abou Walid al-Sahraoui was France’s most wanted extremist in the Sahel. His branch of the ISIL is highly active in the border region of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
The incredibly arid region is sparsely populated and difficult for local and international forces to police. Macron, in a tweet, expressed his pleasure over the successful operation.
“Adnan Abou Walid al Sahraoui, leader of the terrorist ISIL group in the Greater Sahara was neutralized by French forces. This is another major success in our fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel.”
In October of 2017, al-Sahraoui led the Tongo Tongo ambush of American and Nigerian forces. The death of four US soldiers sparked debate and investigation over the US’s presence in Africa. Reports found that US troops were inadequately prepared for the attack. The ambush remains the largest loss of American troops in Africa of the 21st century.
Source: Agencies
