Accessibility links

Breaking News

Self-Proclaimed IS Commander From Kosovo Killed


Lavdrim Muhaxheri from Kosovo declared himself the "commander of Albanians in Syria and Iraq."
Lavdrim Muhaxheri from Kosovo declared himself the "commander of Albanians in Syria and Iraq."

KACANIK, Kosovo -- The self-proclaimed commander of ethnic Albanians fighting as part of the extremist group Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq has been killed in the Middle East, the leader of the Muslim community in his hometown of Kacanik said.

Florim Neziraj told RFE/RL on June 8 that Lavdrim Muhaxheri's brother had informed him of Muhaxheri's death earlier in the day. He said family members told him that Muhaxheri was killed by an air strike in Syria and asked him to notify the Islamic community of his death.

Muhaxheri, an IS member who has declared himself as the "commander of Albanians in Syria and Iraq," is notorious in Kosovo for a video posted on the Internet in 2014 showing him beheading a man in Iraq.

Another video showed him killing a person with a rocket-propelled grenade.

In November, authorities in Kosovo said they had arrested 19 people on suspicion of having links to IS militants and planning to carry out terrorist attacks. Police said the suspects had received attack orders from Muhaxheri.

His death was announced over mosque speakers in Kacanik, in line with tradition when someone from the community dies.

This decision sparked criticism in Kosovo.

"We are serving every citizen and the mosque belongs to everyone," Neziraj said.

With reporting by Reuters

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG