French President Emmanuel Macron announced early on Thursday that French forces had killed Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, the head of Islamic State in the Greater Sahara region.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media that Macron tweeted the killing of al-Sahrawi was "another major success in our fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel". He did not give the location of the incident or any details of the operation.

Macron tweeted, "The nation is thinking tonight of all its heroes who died for France in the Sahel in the Serval and Barkhane operations, of the bereaved families, of all of its wounded. Their sacrifice is not in vain.”

French Defence Minister Florence Parly tweeted the al-Sahrawi was killed in a strike by the French Barkhane force. She called the killing a "decisive blow against this terrorist group", but added, "Our fight continues."