A Russian airstrike may have killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in northern Syria on May 28, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday.
It said in a statement that Russian Su-35 and Su-34 warplanes carried out a strike against a location in a Raqqa suburb, where IS leaders met, killing several high-ranking commanders, 30 middle-level field commanders and up to 300 militants.
"According to information, which is being checked through various channels, IS head Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was present at the meeting, was also killed," the statement said.
The U.S. side was notified in advance on the time and location of the Russian air force operation, it said.
Reports about the death of the IS chief have been circulating in some media for several days, but there has been no official confirmation of it.
