Mali kills the commander of the Islamic State who was wanted by the US

State television in Mali has announced that one of the top commanders of the Islamic State, for whose killing a reward of 5 million dollars was promised, has been killed in an operation involving troops from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.  

Abu Huzeifa had a hand in several high-profile operations in the Sahel region, the BBC reports.

He was involved in the 2017 attack that killed four US soldiers and several Nigerian troops. 
Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria have suffered from relentless attacks by jihadist fighters.

All three countries are under military rule and have developed close ties with Russia while cutting ties with Western allies, including the US.

They have welcomed Russian military aid while forcing troops from other countries to leave.

Abu Huzeifa, who was also known as Higgo, was described by Malian state television as a Moroccan national and a commander in Islamic State's self-styled Sahel province.

He was killed on Sunday in an operation in the northern town of Indelimane in the Menaka region, Mali's state television reported, describing it as a "victory against an evil gang".
The US government said Hufeiza was wanted in connection with an attack on a US Special Forces team in Niger in 2017.