A torn Islamic State flag (illustration). – MORTEZA NIKOUBAZL
The struggle against ISIS leaders continues in Turkey. A senior official of the organization, considered the right-hand man of its former leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was arrested by police in Istanbul, local media reported on Sunday.
Police officers captured this Afghan, who goes by the code name of “Basim”, during a raid in the Atasehir district, on the Asian side of the city.
Turkish media reported that Basim helped al-Baghdadi, who was killed in 2019, go into hiding in Idlib. He was also in charge of the “military wing” of the jihadist group, NTV TV channel reported. He arrived in Istanbul with a fake passport and identity card, the channel said. According to the DHA news agency, his arrest took place on April 28.