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A notorious ISIS computer hacker from Birmingham who masterminded the militant group's online war has been killed in an American drone attack in Syria.

US officials said they have a “high level of confidence” that British jihadi Junaid Hussain, 21, died in the strike in Syria.

He was number three on a Pentagon kill-list - behind only Jihadi John and ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

CNN reported that Hussain was targeted after the US received a tip on his whereabouts in the war-torn region.

Drones were used to help confirm the information before the go-ahead was given to attack a vehicle he was travelling in.

The US network said a “complex process” is now underway to confirm Hussain was definitely killed in the strike.

(Image: Tim Stewart)

One American government source described the drone attack as a “great intelligence success”.

Hussain was said to be behind the circulation of a ‘hit-list’ of addresses and photos of military personnel by an ISIS hacking group.

He fled to Syria in July 2013 and was believed to be leading the so-called ‘Cyber Caliphate’ - ISIS’ own branch of hackers.

Hussain operated under the alias Abu Hussain al-Britani and was once jailed for stealing personal information on Tony Blair.

He was on police bail for an alleged violent disorder offence when he fled the UK and joined ISIS.

(Image: Tim Stewart)

The IT-savvy jihadist used social media to threaten to raised the ISIS flag over “10 Downing Street and the White House”.

It is believed he persuaded former punk rocker Sally Jones, who later converted to Islam, to move to Syria with her young son.

The couple - dubbed ‘Mr & Mrs Terror’ - later married and Jones, 45, from Chatham, Kent, now leads a violent all-female ISIS brigade.

US officials believe Hussain radicalised gunmen who opened fire at a Prophet Mohammed cartoon competition in Garland, Texas, in May.

Last week a US drone strike killed Haji Mutazz, the top ISIS deputy to Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi.