Yemeni anti-Houthi coalition kills Islamic State's chief spokesperson, state security service says

On Tuesday, Yemen's internationally recognized government's counterterrorism unit, Task Force 22, executed a raid resulting in the death of Abu Hudhayfa al-Ansari, according to the Central State Security Agency. This individual had served as the chief spokesperson for the Islamic State and was believed to be the head of the terror group's Yemen cells.

The operation was conducted with the assistance of forces from the Saudi-led coalition opposing the Houthi movement. No civilian casualties were reported in the raid. While Islamic State's official media has not confirmed or refuted the incident as of the time of writing, Yemeni media affiliated with the recognized government reported that the operation took place around 1 a.m. on Tuesday in Seiyun, situated in Hadramout Province.

Local sources indicated that residents heard two explosions coinciding with the raid carried out by Task Force 22 and coalition forces. One source claimed Ansari was wounded and arrested during the operation, ultimately passing away due to his injuries. Another individual residing in the house reportedly lost their life during the raid.

The Islamic State designated al-Ansari as their chief spokesperson in August 2023. In February, the terror group released an audio message purportedly from Ansari, criticizing the Syrian government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa and urging ISIS members to continue fighting against Syria and Sharaa's regime. Although Islamic State officials frequently adopt pseudonyms while occupying official positions, it is presumed that "Abu Hudhayfa al-Ansari" was not the terror leader's actual name.

A purported Yemeni media report identified his legal name as Mithaq Thabit Haitham al-Radfani, although official sources have yet to validate this information.