Washington: The US-led coalition fighting Islamic State confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that it killed Turki al-Binali, the group's self-proclaimed 'Grand Mufti', in an air strike in Syria on May 31.

Binali was one of Islamic State's most visible preachers and appeared regularly in its propaganda videos. He was placed under US sanctions for helping Islamic State recruit foreign fighters, according to the US Treasury.

Binali was one of Islamic State's most visible preachers.

"Al-Binali had a central role in recruiting foreign terrorist fighters and provoking terrorist attacks around the world," the coalition said in a statement.

"As chief cleric to [IS] since 2014, he provided propaganda to incite murder and other atrocities, attempted to legitimise the creation of the 'caliphate', and was a close confidant of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi."

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The coalition said Binali was killed in the Syrian town of Mayadeen.

Reuters