WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that it killed Turki al-Bin’ali, the group’s self-proclaimed “Grand Mufti” or chief cleric, in an air strike in Syria on May 31.

Bin’ali was one of Islamic State’s most visible preachers and appeared regularly in its propaganda videos. He was placed under U.S. sanctions for helping Islamic State recruit foreign fighters, according to the U.S. Treasury.