An Islamic State (IS) militant who specialised in chemical weapons has been killed in a US air strike in Iraq, the military says.
US Central Command said Abu Malik, described as a mid-level operator, was killed near Mosul on January 24.
It said he worked at Saddam Hussein’s Muthana chemical weapons plant before joining al Qaida in Iraq in 2005. He then joined IS, bringing his chemical weapons expertise to the terror group.
The US says his death could “temporarily degrade” the group’s ability to produce and use chemical weapons.
Coalition air strikes have pounded the Mosul area over the past week.
