Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed in Russian air strike near Syrian city of Raqqa, says report

Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in late May by Russia, reports said on Friday. According to Russian news agencies, Russia's Defence Ministry has said that it is checking information about the alleged killing of Baghdadi in a Russian air strike near Syrian city of Raqqa.

The agencies cited the ministry as saying that the Russian air strike had targeted a meeting of ISIS leaders on May 28 in which Baghdadi may have been killed.

"According to the information which is now being checked via various channels, Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was eliminated by the air strike, was also present at the meeting," RIA news agency quoted the ministry as saying.