Islamic State’s ‘nightingale of the levant’ killed in airstrike, west of Mosul
Coalition aircraft while conducting airstrikes against IS in Iraq
“IS member known as abu Talha al-Shami, a main vocalist in the group, was killed in an airstrike that targeted a group’s rest house in the eastern districts of Tal Afar town, located west of Mosul,” the source told AlSumaria News on Tuesday. “Several IS members were killed and injured as a result of the airstrike.”
“Shami, in his early thirties, has been famous within the group. He recorded many songs praising the group. He has been known as ‘nightingale of the levant’, being a Syrian from Hasaka,” the source added.
The group has depended on a group of vocalists to praise it through songs posted on its websites to attract more people.
On Monday, a U.S-led coalition drone fired two rockets at an IS residence in Alawliya, east of Tal Afar, killing 12 militants including the group’s commando chief, Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Qader al-Jeheishi.
Iraqi Defense Ministry said last week that a date has been set for the town invasion, however, it will not be declared to maintain the secrecy of the intended operations.
Col. Ryan Dillon, spokesperson of the U.S.-led coalition against IS, was previously quoted as saying that Tal Afar will be the next target of operations after victory was declared in Mosul.
Tal Afar is one of the important strongholds still held by IS in Nineveh since August 2014.