Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization has successfully tracked and killed the leader of ISIS in Syria, Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini Al-Qurshi. Erdogan stated that Al-Qurshi had been under surveillance by the Turkish intelligence for a long time and was neutralized in an operation carried out by MIT. The Turkish President also pledged to continue the fight against terrorism, claiming that Turkey's fight against terrorism contributes to the security of Europe.
Al-Qurshi became ISIS leader after the death of his predecessor, Abu al-Hasan al-Hashmi al-Qurayshi, who was killed by the Free Syrian Army in Syria last October. Not much was known about Al-Qurshi, but ISIS had described him as an "old fighter". Erdogan’s announcement comes after a recent absence from the public eye due to illness, which had sparked rumors of his deteriorating health just two weeks before a crucial election.
Following Erdogan’s return to the public stage at an aviation festival in Istanbul on Saturday, he rallied his supporters as he seeks to extend his 20-year stint in power. Turkey goes to the polls on May 14 amidst soaring inflation and a currency crisis that last year slashed nearly 30% off the lira’s value against the dollar. Erdogan's recent announcement of the successful operation against ISIS could boost his popularity among the Turkish electorate ahead of the election.
The Turkish President's statement also highlights Turkey's ongoing efforts to root out terrorism in the region. Erdogan has repeatedly criticized Europe for not supporting Turkey's fight against terrorism and not acknowledging Turkey's contributions to Europe's security. With the death of the ISIS leader in Syria, Turkey has once again demonstrated its commitment to counter-terrorism efforts and its ability to neutralize threats to its national security.