The Iraqi prime minister said the head of the "Islamic State" in Iraq and Syria was killed in an operation run by Iraqi intelligence and US-led coalition troops.

Iraq's prime minister has described Abu Khadija as "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world". On Thursday, an airstrike targeted his vehicle and US forces said they had confirmed his death using DNA tests.

The militant known as Abu Khadijah was one of the most important members in the Islamic State’s global organization, according to Centcom.