ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Russia’s Defense Ministry has stated it has verified information that its air forces killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in strike in southern Raqqa in Syria, where many high-level ISIS leaders were meeting on May 27 (Syrian time).
“After confirming unmanned data about the place and time of the meeting of the ISIS leaders, from 00.35 to 00.45 (Moscow time [May 28]) the Russian Aerospace Forces aviation made an airstrike at the command post, where the leaders of the insurgents were,” reads an English statement released by the ministry.
It added the self-declared caliph of the so-called Islamic State was among those killed.
“According to information which is verified through various channels, the meeting was also attended by the leader of ISIS, Ibrahim Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was also killed during the airstrike.”
The ministry says the Headquarters of the Russian force grouping in the Syrian Arab Republic had received information about the meeting of leaders of the terrorist group ISIS in the southern suburb of the city of Raqqa.
“As a result of the attack, senior commanders of the terrorist group were eliminated, which were part of the so-called military council of ISIS, and about 30 field commanders and up to 300 militants of their personal security,” reads the statement.
Others “eliminated” include: “Emir of Raqqa Abu al-Haji al-Masri, Emir Ibrahim al-Naef al-Hajj, who controlled the district from the city of Raqqa to the settlement of es-Sohne and the head of security os [sic] ISIS Suleiman al-Sawah.”
The statement adds that the US was pre-notified about the time and place of action of the Russian aviation.
The area south of Raqqa has been controlled by ISIS, while the US-led international coalition to defeat ISIS has been supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who had been imposing a crescent-shaped siege on Raqqa city from the west, north, and east.
Abu Bakir al-Baghdadi declared the so-called Islamic Caliphate on June 29, 2014, at Nuri Mosque in Mosul, Iraq.
from Rudaw http://ift.tt/2sFYtFz
via Defense News
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