ISIS-linked militant killed in southern Russia anti-terrorist op

An armed extremist has been killed during a counterterrorist operation in the Russian southern republic of Dagestan, the National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) said in a statement. “A gunman was neutralized… in the Botlikh District of Dagestan,” the statement said. The militant has been identified as Yunus Khabibov, the leader of a local extremist group who pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS). The security services found a sniper rifle, ammunition and a hand grenade in the house, where he was hiding, the NAC said. Earlier, a counterterrorism regime was introduced in the region. The local Special Forces continue to search for terrorists and their accomplices, a security official told TASS.