The ISIS leader, Al-Baghdadi, hasn't been heard from since November 2016 when he sent a message urging ISIS fighters to hold their ground in the battle for Mosul. Now, if the Russians are to be believed, we’ll never hear from him again.
According to Russia's defense ministry, it suspects the ISIS leader was killed in a May 28th airstrike near Raqqa, Syria.
The ministry said, "Russian air forces launched a strike on the command point where the leaders were located." The strike took place after drones confirmed that ISIS commanders were holding a meeting.
"According to the information which is now being checked via various channels, also present at the meeting was Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was eliminated as a result of the strike."
Russia claims several senior ISIS leaders, “around 30 commanders, and around 300 fighters” were killed in the strike on the meeting, which was being held to discuss a possible retreat from the besieged city that has served as the capital of the ISIS "caliphate." The ministry says the US was informed of the strike.
The New York Times wrote that although Russia has an extensive intelligence operation targeting ISIS, it is possible that the announcement of the leader's possible death is a tactical move intended to help Russian forces by confusing and discouraging ISIS fighters.
