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Al-Baghdadi was “wounded” in the airstrike, while three of his deputies were killed, Iranian news agency IRNA reported based on a statement by an informed source.
The IRNA source said among the fatalities were Abu Saed al-Karbuli, a “top terrorist commander,” and another leading Islamic State group figure, a Georgian-born Chechen known by the name of Abu Omar al-Shishani.
The Baghdad Information Center confirmed reports that al-Baghdadi and some of his top commanders had been injured late on Sunday, but refuted earlier claims that warlord al-Karbuli was killed. The center is a joint intelligence sharing project founded and run by Russia, Iran, Iraq and Syria.
“Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was injured in the bombing that targeted his motorcade,” the Baghdad Information Center said in a statement quoted by Sputnik news agency.
Reuters said hospital sources and local residents told them that eight senior local Islamic State group figures were killed in the airstrikes that hit two houses. The sources said al-Baghdadi wasn’t among the killed, and failed to clarify whether he was injured.
The convoy was attacked on Sunday in western Anbar province, at a location not far from the Syrian border, where Baghdadi was known to be meeting Islamic State group commanders.
"The location of the meeting was also bombed and many of the group's leaders were killed and wounded. The fate of the murderer al-Baghdadi is unknown and he was carried away by a vehicle. His health condition is still unclear," the military said, according to Reuters.
Reports of al-Baghdadi being killed or deposed as Islamic State group leader have emerged before, and his whereabouts have remained unknown for long periods of time.
“After Baghdadi met with the group’s leaders in the township of Karabla, his convoys were targeted by Iraqi aircraft in Anbar province,” the Iraqi Cabinet said in a statement.
The military gave no information about the fate of the terrorist leader, admitting it was unknown.
“He (Baghdadi) was carried away by a vehicle. His health condition is still unclear,” according to the Iraqi report.
Karabla is a village located between the towns of Al Qaim and Husaybah, on the border with Syria.
The statement said the operation was conducted in coordination with intelligence services from Iraq's Interior Ministry and the joint operation command center that includes military advisers from the U.S.-led coalition.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the Iraqi military report.
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Supporters of the terrorist group reacted on social media, claiming that even if Baghdadi was killed, the group would survive without him.
However, Russian intelligence radio interceptions showed Sunday that the group is currently panicking over losses due to Russian airstrikes in Syria.
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#Raqqa #ISIS launch Siren in #Raqqa city and you can hair it everywhere #Syria #IS #ISIL #ISIS
— Abu Mohammed (@Raqqa_sl1)
octubre 11, 2015
According to Russian Defense Minister Igor Konashenkov, Islamic State group field commanders can be heard urging senior members to expedite weapons supplies and deploying reinforcements from Raqqa, the main Islamic State group stronghold.
The United States and Russia have directed their airstrikes to key sites within Raqqa, sparking concern among the terrorists controlling the city.
Iraq is coordinating operations against the Islamic State group with Washington, Moscow and Damascus.
