France says it killed ISIS leader behind deaths of U.S. soldiers, hails big victory

PARIS — France killed the leader of the Islamic State group in the Greater Sahara, French officials said Thursday, calling him “enemy No. 1” in protracted anti-terrorism efforts in the region.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the death of Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi overnight.

According to Macron’s office, al-Sahrawi personally ordered the killing of six French aid workers and their Nigerien colleagues last year, and his group was behind a 2017 attack that killed U.S. and Niger military personnel.