ISIL Chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi 'Killed in Syria Airstrike': Reports
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The world's most wanted terrorist Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed in an airstrike, according to reports.
Unverified reports from Syrian state television say the leader of Daesh (also known as ISIL or ISIS) was killed in Raqqa.
However the reports are unconfirmed and previous claims of Bakr al-Baghdadi's death have proven unfounded, Independent reported.
In 2014 Bakr al-Baghdadi took over the city of Raqqa and declared an Islamic caliphate.
Today ISIL has claimed responsibility for several terrorist incidents across the globe including recent attacks on Manchester and London Bridge.
Syrian activists, Raqqa24, did report an airstrike in Raqqa killed at least seven civilians on Saturday, although there was no mention made of al-Baghdadi.
Bakr al-Baghdadi, who has a $25million bounty on his head, had been believed to be hiding out in the desert outside the besieged city of Mosul in northern Iraq after fleeing Raqqa in March.
However, intelligence suggests he left the city recently.
Baghdadi himself has not released a recorded speech since early November, two weeks after the start of the Mosul battle, when he called on his followers to fight the "unbelievers" and "make their blood flow as rivers".
