Deso Dogg, real name Denis Cuspert, a well-known rapper in the Berlin rap scene and a prominent ISIS propagandist. was killed earlier this month during U.S. air strikes, according to CNN. Cuspert, also known as Abu Talha al-Almani, was killed while traveling in a vehicle in Syria.
The State Department named Cuspert a specially designate global terrorist, alleging that he joined ISIS in 2012 and is seen on many ISIS videos, one in particular shows him holding a severed head.
"He appeared to serve as an ISIL recruiter with special emphasis on recruiting German speakers to ISIL," the designation said.
ISIS continues to recruit foreign fighters, with an estimated two-thirds of their fighters being foreign born.
"Cuspert was a foreign terrorist fighter and operative for ISIL who used social media to take advantage of disaffected youth and potential Western recruits," said Department of Defense spokeswoman Elissa Smith in a statement, using another name for ISIS, NBC News reported. "He publicly threatened the president of the United States and German citizens; he also encouraged Western Muslims to conduct attacks."
"I can confirm that an Oct. 16 airstrike near Raqqah killed Denis Cuspert," Smit added. "His death contributes to our efforts to stop foreign fighter recruitment."
"Cuspert has been a willing pitchman for ISIL atrocities," a department statement in February said, according to The New York Times. "Cuspert is also wanted by the German government on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities in his home country."
