IS leader Baghdadi may have been killed by Russia

Moscow June 16 (IANS) Russia s Defence Ministry said on Friday that it is verifying reports whether the Islamic State militant group s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed by its forces on the southern outskirts of Syria s Raqqa.

The ministry said the Russian airstrike may have killed Baghdadi along with 330 terrorists on May 28 Tass reported.

The airstrike was carried out overnight against a command post where the IS group s leaders were meeting to discuss the routes for the terrorists exit from Raqqa through the southern corridor the ministry said in a statement.

The air raid was launched following drone footage confirmation of the council s meeting location the statement said.

The US was said to have been informed in advance of the Russian strike Sputnik reported.

--IANS
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