Successors to IS strategist Adnani

Following the death of Abu Muhammad al-Adnani – key strategist of so-called Islamic State – IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is likely to appoint either Turki al-Binali or Abu Luqman as his replacement

Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, 39: IS second-in-command, Foreign operations and propaganda chief. Killed in Aleppo province. Linked to attacks that killed
hundreds of people, including in Paris, Brussels, Orlando and Istanbul

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, 39: U.S. has offered $10 million reward for information leading to his capture or death

Turki al-Binali, 31: Born in Muharraq, Bahrain’s third largest city. Family has close ties to Bahrain’s ruling Al Khalifa royal family

Education: Studies at schools throughout Middle East. Mentors include Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, considered one of most influential Jihadi ideologues. Binali becomes talented orator in Bahrain’s ultraconservative Salafi movement

2010-13: Travels to Yemen to meet Al Qaeda, Sirte, in Libya, after fall of Gaddafi regime, and Syria, where he joins Islamic State

2014-15: Writes theological treatises which lay foundation for declaring Islamic caliphate in Syria and Iraq. Writes guidelines justifying
sex slavery of Yazidi women and girls, based on 13th-century theology

Abu Luqman, 43: Also known as Ali Mousa al-Shawwakh. Born in Raqqa province, Syria

Education: Law degree from University of Aleppo

2003: In Iraq during U.S. invasion

2011: Released from Syria’s notorious Sednaya prison

2012: Joins Al Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra (JN). Luqman begins selling oil from JN-controlled refineries

2013: Following short-lived merger of JN and IS, Luqman joins IS

2014: Head of security in Raqqa, orders torture and beheadings. Appointed to IS eight-member governing council

2015: Governor of Aleppo and Raqqa. Oversees IS oil trade, raking in as much as $3 million per day

Sources: Brookings Institute, Long War Journal, Institute for the Study of War

Pictures: Associated Press, You Tube, Dabiq magazine