Islamic State likely to pick battle-hardened Iraqi as next leader - officials, analysts

A view shows houses destroyed in past Islamic State militant attacks, in the town of Sinjar, Iraq January 24, 2022. Picture taken January 24, 2022. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The next leader of Islamic State is likely to be from a close circle of battle-hardened Iraqi jihadists who emerged in the aftermath of the 2003 U.S. invasion, two Iraqi security officials and three independent analysts said.

The group of potential successors to Abu Ibrahim al-Quraishi, who blew himself up during a U.S. operation to capture him in Syria last week, includes one commander whom Washington and Baghdad declared killed last year, the Iraqi officials said.