Reports: ISIS Chief Allegedly Arrested in Iraq

An ISIS terrorist possibly selected to lead the organization after the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been arrested in Iraq, according to state-run media. 

“Today, the terrorist called Abdel Nasser Qardash, the candidate to succeed the criminal al-Baghdadi, has been arrested,” security services told the Iraqi News Agency on Wednesday, Egypt’s Sada El-Balad reports. 

Turkey’s state-run Andalou Agency also reported that Qardash was behind bars after an intelligence-led operation. 

Some reports hinted that he had already been arrested in a previous raid in Syria, possibly involving U.S. troops — and Wednesday’s announcement just noted his transfer to Iraqi custody, Arab News noted.

Qardash was thought to be the successor for ISIS ringleader al-Baghdadi, who blew himself up when U.S. special forces pounced on his Syrian hideaway in October.

Qardash had been al-Baghdadi’s second-in-command and groomed as a likely successor, according to numerous reports. 

But other reports indicate Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi is now in charge, with confusion over whether that was just a different name used by Qardash.

• ISIS Advises Its Terrorists to Avoid Coronavirus Areas
• Islamic State Exploiting Virus to Increase Attacks in Iraq