Islamic state says leader killed during fighting, appoints successor

Islamic State (IS) militant group leader Abu al-Hassan al-Hashemi al-Quraishi has been killed in fighting, the group's spokesman announced in an audio message posted on an affiliated Telegram channel.

The spokesman said Abu al-Hassan al-Hashemi al-Quraishi was killed while "fighting enemies of God", without elaborating. 

An IS spokesperson says Abu al-Hassan al-Hashemi al-Quraishi was killed while "fighting enemies of God"

No details about the new leader Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Quraishi have been given

The death of the leader comes after he was selected to head the terror group back in March

Islamic State's brutal rule, during which it killed and executed thousands of people in the name of its narrow interpretation of Islam, came to an end in Mosul when Iraqi and international forces defeated the group there in 2017.

Its remaining thousands of militants have in recent years mostly hid out in remote territory but are still able to carry out significant insurgent-style attacks.

The White House welcomed the news of the militant group leader's death, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

"We're still working our way through that," Mt Kirby said, when asked about reports of the leader's death.

Key points: 

• An IS spokesperson says Abu al-Hassan al-Hashemi al-Quraishi was killed while "fighting enemies of God"
• No details about the new leader Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Quraishi have been given
• The death of the leader comes after he was selected to head the terror group back in March