ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was reportedly killed during a Russian airstrike late last month in Raqqa that also claimed the lives of several other high-ranking ISIS leaders, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
“According to information, which is being checked through various channels, IS leader Ibrahim Abu-Bakr al-Baghdadi was also present at the meeting and was killed as a result of the strike,” the ministry said in a statement.
Russian Defence Ministry reports about the elimination of a number of leaders of ISIS in #SYRIA by Aerospace Forces https://t.co/JHxrvGPRLm
— ?????????? ?????? (@mod_russia) June 16, 2017
Russian aircraft carried out airstrikes near the (now former) ISIS capital of Raqqa in northern Syria on May 28, the ministry said. The strikes targeted a meeting of high-ranking Islamic State chiefs where al-Baghdadi was said to be present, Reuters and Russia Today reported. The ISIS leaders had gathered to discuss “routes for the exit of militants from Raqqa through the so-called ‘southern corridor’."
Al-Baghdadi could be among about 30 Islamic State commanders killed by the attack, the ministry added though it provided no explanation for the delay in reporting the strike, which is said also killed about 300 Islamic State fighters, Bloomberg added.
The US-led coalition has not confirmed the Russian reprort “We cannot confirm these reports at this time,” said Colonel Ryan Dillon, a military spokesman, in a statement.
Others raised doubts about the likelihood that Baghdadi died in the strikes. Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that according to his information, Baghdadi was located in another part of Syria at the end of May.
“The information is that as of the end of last month Baghdadi was in Deir al-Zor, in the area between Deir al-Zor and Iraq, in Syrian territory,” he said by phone.
Questioning what Baghdadi would have been doing in that location, he said: “Is it reasonable that Baghdadi would put himself between a rock and a hard place of the (U.S.-led) coalition and Russia?”
Considered the leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Born Ibrahim al-Samarrai, is a 46-year-old Iraqi who broke away from al Qaeda in 2013. Since the US-led coalition became involved in the battle against ISIS back in 2014, al-Baghdadi’s death has been reported a handful of times, but never confirmed. The ISIS leader is reclusive; the last public video footage of Baghdadi shows him dressed in black clerical robes declaring his caliphate from the pulpit of Mosul's medieval Grand al-Nuri mosque back in 2014, according to Reuters.
To be sure, reports of Baghdadi's death may be - once again - greatly exaggerated: as Bloomberg reminds us, there have been several previous unconfirmed reports of his death, including in March 2015 and in June 2016, that al-Baghdadi was seriously wounded in air strikes carried out by U.S.-led coalition forces. In March 2017, U.S. defense officials said he left Mosul before Iraqi forces began their offensive there.
Comments
Noooo Not BaghDadi! BaghMomi is going to be besides herself!
so, WAS HE wearing the james bond Omega or not?!?WAS McCain there, too?
In reply to Noooo Not BaghDadi! BaghMomi by JustPrintMoreDuh
McCain wasn't there but rest assured he will be seeking revenge for this.
In reply to so, WAS HE wearing the james by HenryKissinger…
McCain sheds a tear over the loss of his friend. Angrily waving his tyrannosauric little arms in the air, he vows revenge...
In reply to McCain wasn't there but rest by froze25
Next target is Bag Lady (shopping cart & all)
In reply to McCain sheds a tear over the by Shemp 4 Victory
GOOD! CALL THAT FAKE MUSLIM MOSSAD AGENT BY HIS GIVEN JOO WORLD ORDER NAME.
In reply to Next target is Bag Lady by Drimble Wedge
This is the second or third time they've killed this guy.
In reply to GOOD! CALL THAT FAKE MUSLIM by WTFRLY
I've run out of fingers and toes to count how many times he's been killed in an air strike at this point...
In reply to This is the second or third by lil dirtball
Russian know how to take the trash out.Doing it while everybody was watching the US circus.Taking about circus, there was some bread to go with it.Ivanka Was the Main Attraction at Congressional Baseball Game
In reply to I've run out of fingers and by ThaBigPerm
al-BigDaddy...
In reply to Russian know how to take the by Alt RightGirl
Now we know at least why new sanctions get imposed on Russia " for their behavior in Syria"...
In reply to al-BigDaddy... by Déjà view
Baghdadi is survived by his 18 wives, 145 children, and 233 grandchildren. The beloved caliph and grandfather enjoyed gardening, restoring classic cars, and beheading infidels. Memorial service to be held at First Memorial Mosque of Aleppo. Reception to follow at CIA headquarters.
In reply to Now we know at least why new by fx
Apparently he enjoyed fucking. Surprised he found time to repair the wheel well rot on that split window Vette.
In reply to Baghdadi is survived by his by Ghost of Porky
"between a rock and a hard place"? LOL! There have been lots of incidents and videos and other footage showing how ISIL commanders and fighters got safe passage at various times and places from the US-led coalition forces in both Iraq and Syria.
I could imagine that this bastard felt quite safe in Raqqa with the US-led coalition keeping the Syrian army at bay.
Also, the Russians are not known for constantly bragging about accomplishments that have to be denounced a week later, quite in contrast to the DoD.
In reply to Russian know how to take the by Alt RightGirl
Is this the fourth or fifth time time he is killed?
In reply to Russian know how to take the by Alt RightGirl
Troll!
In reply to Russian know how to take the by Alt RightGirl
RIP our agent and comrade in arms Elliot Shimon.
Eretz Israel shall prevail!
In reply to Russian know how to take the by Alt RightGirl
"I've run out of fingers and toes to count how many times he's been killed in an air strike at this point..."
So far these were all US airstrikes, this time the Russians made a move.
Which, if he is really dead, tells you a thing or two about either the efficiency of said airstrikes. Or about the existence of them.
In reply to I've run out of fingers and by ThaBigPerm
The Russians have cause a leadership problem within ISIS. Anonymous sources have reported that the remaining ISIS leaders had a secret meeting and they all were saying, you are the new leader....no you are,....no,no,no you, you are. no,no,no.....This went on for 3 hours and finally John McCain was contacted on his secure direct line to make the executive decision. Putin has been heard saying, set up BagDaddy #6, Johnny Boy.
In reply to I've run out of fingers and by ThaBigPerm
McCain fries were served reportedly, too, during said meeting.
In reply to The Russians have cause a by Got The Wrong No
What can you say.The cat's got 9 lives.
In reply to This is the second or third by lil dirtball
Aww crap, not another multi-million dollar pentagon investment down the drain. No wonder they can't find all that missing money with these kind of assets..
In reply to GOOD! CALL THAT FAKE MUSLIM by WTFRLY
Assholes at the CIA: "Why can't I get Baghdadi on his cell? What?! He's dead?! Shit! Shit! Alright, fuck it, who else have we got?"
In reply to Aww crap, not another by SoilMyselfRotten
The sister of shopping cart lady ?
In reply to Next target is Bag Lady by Drimble Wedge
I'm sure he will attend the funeral.
In reply to McCain sheds a tear over the by Shemp 4 Victory
McSane was on conference call with Linthsy Grwamsey under his desk, furiously trying to fluff McSains desicated, shriveled, diseased scared noodle.
In reply to so, WAS HE wearing the james by HenryKissinger…
They are preparing to ressurect him via public ritual on CNN.
In reply to McSane was on conference by Offthebeach
Eye of Eagle, venim of snake, balls of goat, blood of virgin, hair of camel, that kind of stuff?
In reply to They are preparing to by BorisTheBlade
No doubt furious that the USAF was not flying cover for his ISIS buddies.
In reply to so, WAS HE wearing the james by HenryKissinger…
Flags at half Mast over at CIA
Cherry on top: Putin claims the 25 million dollar bounty on him.
In reply to Flags at half Mast over at by booboo
which is immediately converted to Au.
In reply to Cherry on top: Putin claims by thisandthat
.
Perhaps Kathy Griffin can be prevailed upon to take another pic with a severed head to redeem herself ;-)
I've been sayin' that Kathy needs to go on the road with this severed heads act. In fact, she can model my head, "See this guy? He doesn't think I'm funny nor women either," victoriously shaking the head, "well, who's laughing now?"
In reply to Perhaps Kathy Griffin can be by nmewn
Groundhog Day again?
I got you babe
In reply to Groundhog Day again? by south40_dreams
You should see what they did to that building. It's walls are razed neatly to the ground on all sides and the ones beside it in the street are still standing intact, including one that looks a bit like a Mosque. No idea what they did it with, but they must have wanted those guys bad.
In reply to Groundhog Day again? by south40_dreams
Before (13 May) and After (29 May)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCcdac9XYAEQKb2.jpg
In reply to You should see what they did by land_of_the_few
Dude will be 'killed' like six times.
Then he will be spotted in Dayton or something.
Dude is like a Schrodinger's Cat.It will probably take a Large Hadron Collider to properly put him to rest.Then pay Musk for burial ceremony in the sea on Mars according to crypto-Muslim tradition.
In reply to Dude will be 'killed' like by IndyPat
You know, at the ham radio convention there in May, there was this one guy running a stand at the flea market...
In reply to Dude will be 'killed' like by IndyPat
Allah Smackbar.....goats rejoice
What? Again?
Capitol police bust the cap?
Did the Russians throw his dead body into the Euphrates from a helicopter to comply with "Muslim tradition"?
Nope. No photos from the Kremlin War Room either. Russians have a lot to learn from US about Boogieman PR.
In reply to Did the Russians throw his by Global Hunter
Never kill the job.
In reply to Nope. No photos from the by Doom and Dust
There is a foto from the war room. & weirdly, the computers are plugged in.
In reply to Never kill the job. by Offthebeach
Pretty sure they just BBQed it mightily... did they Kaliber those 30 guys or some other method?
In reply to Did the Russians throw his by Global Hunter
Pagination