The convoy of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi has been struck by Iraq’s air force in western Anbar, the military says.
His condition and whereabouts following the attack remains unclear, but it is not thought he was killed in the strike. However, other senior Islamic State members are believed to have died, according to the Reuters news agency.
A Twitter account which releases statements from IS said ‘rumours’ an airstrike had targeted al Baghdadi were false. It comes after Turkish security sources told Reuters that their initial investigation into Saturday’s deadly bombings in Ankara had led them to believe IS was responsible.
The Iraqi military’s statement added: ‘He was heading to Karabla to attend a meeting with Daesh (IS) commanders.
‘The location of the meeting was also bombed and many of the group’s leaders were killed and wounded. ‘Fate of murderer al Baghdadi is unknown and he was carried away by a vehicle. His health condition is still unclear.’
IS supporters have insisted that the caliphate will continue, even if their leader has been killed in the strike.
One tweeted: ‘Does the entire world not know that even if, hypothetically, our Sheikh al Baghdadi, God save and protect him from all evils and dangers, was martyred, do you think the State of the Caliphate would end? Do you think we would leave?’
Another supporter added: ‘Even if he was martyred then it will not affect Islamic State. We will lose a leader but there are a thousand Baghdadis.
‘Every minute a leader is born in the Islamic State.’
Meanwhile, Russia’s military has claimed it has also been targeting Islamic State training camps, ammunition dumps and fighting positions in Syria. Moscow officials said 63 airstrikes were performed by its troops over the past 24 hours – destroying a total of 53 sites across four provinces.
However, most of the areas struck are not currently held by the extremist group, and are instead controlled by rebel factions fighting against the Assad regime.
