On Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry said a Russian airstrike just outside the Islamic State's de facto capital Raqqa, Syria, on May 28 killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, along with other high-ranking ISIS leaders, 30 midlevel commanders, and about 300 other fighters. "According to the information that is being verified through various channels, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi also attended the meeting and was killed in the airstrike," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The ISIS leader is believed to have been hiding out in the desert outside of Mosul, Iraq, until escaping the area when U.S.-backed Iraqi forces recaptured most of the city. The meeting of senior ISIS leaders was to plan the group's withdrawal from Raqqa amid a mounting U.S.-backed offensive there, the Russian Defense Ministry said. This isn't the first report of al-Baghdadi's death, BBC News notes.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red SeaSpeed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacksspeed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages releasedSpeed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs saySpeed Read
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?Speed Read
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign portSpeed Read
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'Speed Read
