French troops ‘neutralise’ ISIS leader in North Africa who had $5m bounty on his head after killing four US soldier

FRENCH troops have “neutralised” ISIS’s leader in Africa who had a £3.5million bounty on his head. The terror mastermind had been hunted for four years after he ordered the killing of four US servicemen and several charity workers from France.  APA reward poster for the capture of the terror leader[/caption] Adnan Abou Walid al Sahraoui, who was in his late 40s, was “neutralised” four years after ordering a notorious ambush in Niger in which four US servicemen died and others were wounded. French president Emmanuel Macron confirmed Al- Sahraoui — who also used the alias Lehbib Ould — was finally dead. In a tweet early this morning, Macron said: “Adnan Abou Walid al Sahraoui, leader of the terrorist group Islamic State in the Greater Sahara was neutralised by French forces. “This is another major success in our fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel.” The president was referring to a vast area of mainly desert land in Africa where terror groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda operate. He added: “The nation is thinking this evening of all its heroes who died for France in the Sahel, in the Serval and Barkhane operations, of the bereaved families, of all of its wounded.” Most read in The Sun LOST LEGENDS FIVE Gogglebox stars have left show ahead of new series after tragic deaths MAN EWE Cristiano Ronaldo switches mansions after bleating sheep kept waking him up 'JUST PATHETIC' Candace Owens rips Meghan & Harry's 'embarrassing' Time cover 'FIGHTING TALK' Piers Morgan says new job is 'bigger than GMB' as he looks for new TV wife DYER STRAITS Kieron Dyer batters SAS: Who Dares Wins' Jason Fox after he broke his rib WHALE OF PAIN Killer whale named Hugo ‘committed SUICIDE’ by ramming head against tank Macron said: “Their sacrifice is not in vain. With our African, European and American partners, we will continue this fight.” There was no initial information as to what was used to kill Al-Sahraoui, or where or when the attack happened. But an Élysée Palace spokesman said the ISIS leader “was definitely dead”. In August, Macron said he would be pulling many of his troops out of the Sahel — which covers numerous African countries including Niger and Mali. This followed anti-terrorist operations codenamed Serval and Barkhane that were leading to mounting French losses. Adnan Abou Walid al Sahraoui, leader of the terrorist group Islamic State in the Greater Sahara was neutralised by French forces French President Emmanuel Macron But the president said special forces supported by airpower including armed drones would continue the hunt for lead terrorists. In October 2019, The US State Department offered “up to $5million” (£3.5m) for any information leading to the capture or killing of Al-Sahraoui. It followed an ISIS ambush in Niger in October 2017 which led to the deaths of army sgt David Johnson, 25, staff sgt Bryan Black, 35, staff sgt Jeremiah Johnson, 39 and Staff Sgt Dustin Wright, 29. Four Nigerian troops were also killed in the attack, and two American soldiers and eight Nigerien soldiers were severely wounded. We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun news desk? Email us at exclusive@the-sun.co.uk or call 02077824104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.