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Rachid Kassim, a French national and senior figure in the jihadi terror group, was targeted in the military strike which took place near the city of Mosul at some point in the past three days. Kassim, who is in his 30s, is believed to have played a key role in knife attacks on French nationals which led to the deaths of a senior policeman and an elderly priest.

US Marine Corps Major JT Rankine-Galloway, a Pentagon spokesman, said: “We are currently assessing the results of the strike and will provide more information when it becomes available.” Mr Rankine-Galloway did not confirm whether Kassim was believed to have been killed in the operation. Numerous Islamic State leaders have been taken out in the past month under a variety of circumstances.

WIKIMEDIA•GETTY The chief ISIS militant was targeted in the strike.

GETTY The strike took place near the city of Mosul.

GETTY Kassam is believed to have planned knife attacks by ISIS jihadis in France.

The sick jihadi leader was said to have gone “underground” after a £20million bounty was put on his head before the end of last year. Consumed by paranoia, Baghdadi reportedly slept in a suicide vest in hiding while his forces fell to assaults by Iraqi and Peshmerga troops. An unnamed defence source said: “The head of IS is now a priority target. That means the SAS will be using all of their experience and skill to track him down.

Ancient sites destroyed by ISIS Thu, December 8, 2016 Daesh terrorists have blown up historical cultural heritage sites in the Middle East. These pictures show the ancient sites in all their glory before they were destroyed by ISIS. Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 20 The giant Buddha statues, which were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001 in Bamiyan province