AFP, Moscow :
Russia said Monday the leader of the Islamist insurgency in the North Caucasus was killed in a special operation, and militants confirmed his death.
Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee said that Aliaskhab Kebekov was “neutralised” during a special operation in the North Caucasus region of Dagestan.
Kavkaz Center website, used by rebels to release statements, confirmed Kebekov’s death, saying that “our dear brother became a martyr.”
Kebekov, 43, a native of Dagestan, took over as leader of the Caucasus Emirate group in 2014 after the death of its veteran Chechen leader Doku Umarov.
Russia included Kebekov on its federal list of terrorists and extremists. He was declared wanted in 2012 for taking part in an illegal armed group.
The United States named Kebekov a “global terrorist”, citing his claimed readiness to carry out orders from al-Qaida
The Caucasus Emirate is an Islamist group created in 2007 that has claimed responsibility for a string of deadly attacks in a simmering insurgency.
It aims to establish an Islamist state in the region and has called for global jihad.
