U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said Friday a top Islamic State commander is believed to have been killed in a raid in Syria.

Abd ar-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli - described as the group's second in command - was killed on Thursday, according to U.S. media reports.

Speaking at a Pentagon press conference, Carter said he could not elaborate on details of the raid but said it was "consistent with our strategy" to "put pressure on ISIS leadership."

Earlier in March, Omar al-Shishani - also known as "Omar the Chechen" - was killed in a U.S. airstrike.

(Voice of America)