The Yemeni State Security announced on Tuesday the death of ISIS leader Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari during a joint operation executed by coalition special forces, supported by the Yemeni counter-terrorism forces.
State security elaborated that the operation aimed to capture al-Ansari, but it resulted in his death instead. The joint special forces withdrew from the operation area after completing their mission, with no civilian casualties or damages reported.
Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari was one of the prominent leaders of ISIS, with the group announcing his appointment as its spokesperson in August 2023.
He appeared in audio propaganda recordings for the organization, including a speech in January 2024, and subsequently re-emerged in a February 2026 audio recording, where he criticized the Syrian government and urged ISIS militants to continue fighting.