Gantz on US op that killed IS chief: ‘An important message to the world’

MANAMA — Defense Minister Benny Gantz hails the United States’ overnight operation against Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi in northern Syria, saying it sent a message not only to the terror group but to the world about America’s willingness and ability to conduct bold operations.

“It broadcasts an important message to the Middle East. The message is that there is the operational and strategic determination of the utmost significance. As a rule, the American modus operandi is to do big actions, and they have the ability to do so,” Gantz tells reporters at the end of his visit to Bahrain.

“I think it is very important, it is an important message to the world — that when America wants to do something, it can,” he says, in an apparent nod to Iran and the prospects of an Israeli, or Israeli-American, strike on its nuclear program.

Asked if the US had told Israel about its plans to go after al-Qurayshi in advance or if Israel was involved in the operation, Gantz refuses to comment.

“I won’t get into details about the conversations with the Americans. At the end of the day, this was an American operation, an independent and important one, including actions on the ground,” he says.