Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Hit in Airstrike, Iraq Says — ISIS News

And while it is possible that IS can have a post-Baghdadi life, the death of a charismatic and powerful leader of any group results in a power struggle, splinter groups and a loss of morale. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had made a self-proclamation that he is the caliph of all Muslims after his armed forces had a victory over most of the northern parts of Iraq previous year.

Iraq’s security services were attempting Monday to confirm reports that Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was wounded in an Iraqi strike on his convoy. Iraq’s military had said that the reclusive Baghdadi was taken away in a auto after the assault on his entourage in a town near the Syrian border.

However, last week, the Iraqi Army has said that al-Baghdadi was again wounded in an airstrike carried out against his convoy, while travelling to meet with fellow ISIS commanders and recruiters in the Karabelah area.

The statement added that the elite intelligence section of Iraqi Air Force targeted the convoy of the terrorist leader after gathering precise information about his plan to attend a meeting of Daesh operatives in the restive province of Anbar.

Iraq has claimed strikes on al-Baghdadi in the past. His corpse was then allegedly carried away in one vehicle which evaded the airstrikes.

The ministry has been firm with its reports, but the Pentagon insists that the claims still need to be confirmed and celebration should be saved for when there is solid evidence that al-Baghdadi has been destroyed. This is not the first time the leader of ISIS has been declared killed by unconfirmed stories, according to The Daily Mail.

Iraq said on Sunday its air force had hit the meeting and had also struck a convoy that was carrying Baghdadi to attend it.

The U.S. Department of State in 2011 labeled Baghdadi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and offered a $10 million bounty. His status was eventually lowered to “low level prisoner” and recommended for release as he was deemed not to pose a threat to national security.

The leader of ISIS is probably still living, despite rumors of his death that filled the media on Sunday.