The U.S. State Department officially labeled Adnani a terrorist in August 2014. That designation characterized him as "the official spokesman for and a senior leader" of ISIS, a position he obtained after becoming "one of the first foreign fighters to oppose (U.S.-led) coalition forces in Iraq."
Between 2005 and 2010 during the Iraq conflict, Adnani was captured and spent time in custody, including, it is believed, at the U.S. detention facility, Camp Bucca.