ISIS says its leader has been killed in combat and names his replacement

ISIS says its leader has been killed in combat, and a successor has already been announced.

The Islamic State said Abu Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi - who was appointed in March - was 'killed while struggling against the enemies of God'.

"I announce and mourn for the Islamic state and the fighters of almighty Islamic state, (the absence) of the Amir of believers and the Calipha of the Muslims Abu al-Hasan al-Hashmi al- Qurayshi … he was killed while struggling against the enemies of God," spokesman Abu Omar al-Muhajer said in the message released Wednesday (30 November) according to CNN.

ISIS didn't elaborate on the circumstances surrounding his apparent death, but Abu al-Husain al-Husaini al-Quraishi was announced as his successor, and described by the group as an 'old fighter'.