Dead or alive? Speculations grow over ISIS leader's status

, Nov 11: The world awaits the results of a debate surrounding the dead or alive status of

leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. While ISIS military says that their leader was seriously injured, the US and the UK are still doubtful about his whereabouts.

On Sunday, senior Iraqi officials said that the ISIS leader could have been wounded, but his right-hand aide Auf Abdulrahman Elefery had perished during the air strike.

Taking to the social media, the ISIS militants said that their leader was not travelling in the same convoy as that of Elefery. But other sources say that it was unlikely that the duo travelled separately as they stayed close to each other. To top it all, the chances of his survival were meagre as the airstrike destroyed 10 vehicles.

Meanwhile, Iraqi security official, Hisham al-Hashimi said that Elefery's death was confirmed to him by relatives.

General Nicholas Houghton, the Chief of the Defence Staff of the British Armed Forces said,"I can't absolutely confirm that Baghdadi has been killed. Probably it will take some days to have absolute confirmation.'

Intelligence agencies said that al-Baghdadi was hit during a meeting with militants in the town of Qaim in Iraq's western Anbar province. However, it could not be confirmed how badly he was wounded.

OneIndia News