BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A senior Islamic State group commander wanted in connection with the deaths of U.S. forces in Niger was killed in an operation by Malian state forces, the country’s army said. Abu Huzeifa, known by the alias Higgo, was a commander in the group known as the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara. The State Department had announced a reward of up to $5 million for information about him. Huzeifa is believed to have helped carry out an attack in 2017 on U.S. and Nigerien forces in Tongo Tongo, Niger, which resulting in the deaths of four Americans and four Nigerien soldiers. Following the attack, the U.S. military scaled back operations with local partners in the Sahel. “The identification and clues gathered confirm the death of Abu Huzeifa dit Higgo, a foreign terrorist of great renown,” the Malian army said in a statement late Monday. |
InPics: People celebrate Laba Festival in BeijingShanghai sculpture show sees Rodin, Sanxingdui in dialogueLeBron James' tripleCelebrations of Miao New Year and Guzang Festival held in SW China's GuizhouWorld Heritage in China: Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu CityTokyo International Film Festival kicks off as China's Zhang Yimou wins lifetime awardChina to launch national survey on cultural relicsA sneak peek inside China's first Northeast folk cultureStreet dance in ChinaSteve Clifford ends Hornets coaching tenure as winningest coach in franchise history