The man designated as IS's new leader is named Abdullah Qardash and was named a top position in the terrorist network by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as early as August, according to data in Newsweek. The information on the nomination for the top position was published in IS news agency Amaq, but its authenticity has been questioned.
Qardash is also called Hajji Abdullah al-Afari. The two men should have met at a prison in Basra in 2003, writes Newsweek.
The International Business Times writes that Qardash was part of al-Qaeda before he swore allegiance to IS.
Qardash has previously worked under Iraq's dictator Saddam Hussein, who was toppled in 2003 by a US-led invasion, Newsweek reports.
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