The leader of Islamic State in Syria, one of the top five leaders of the militant group, has been killed in a US air strike, the US military said on Tuesday (Jul 12). In a statement, US Central Command said Maher al-Agal had been killed in a drone strike in northwestern Syria and a close associate of his was seriously injured. "Extensive planning went into this operation to ensure its successful execution. An initial review indicates there were no civilian casualties," the statement added.