Russia is claiming on Friday that it may have killed Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-declared "caliph," in an airstrike.The defense ministry said on Friday it's investigating reports the leader was killed in a airstrike in Syria on May 28; the Russians carried out a series airstrikes against the violent extremist group, including on a meeting of high-ranking militants.
The US is investigating Russia's claims? I would think the US should have no doubt that Russia didn't kill Baghdadi because the US has already killed him several times.
The meeting had been called because the Islamic State group's de-facto capital of Raqqa, Syria, is increasingly besieged. The group was seeking to establish "routes for the exit of militants from Raqqa through the so-called 'southern corridor.'" The airstrike in question was carried out near Raqqa.
"According to information, which is being checked through various channels… al-Baghdadi was also present at the meeting and was killed as a result of the strike," the ministry said.
Russia said it has consulted with the United States on the matter, giving the Americans time and place of the airstrike.
"High-ranking commanders of the terrorist group, who were part of the so-called military council of Isis, as well as about 30 mid-level field commanders and up to 300 fighters in charge of their personal protection, were killed," the ministry said.
The U.S. had not commented on the claim by publication time Friday morning. But some Western analysts quickly cast aspersions on it.
"Intel suggest much of ISIS leadership moved away from Raqqa area months previously," tweeted Paul Cruickshank, editor of the United States Military Academy's CTC Sentinel, using the near-ubiquitous acronym for the group.est "Idea of over 300 ISIS fighters being killed in one strike struggles to pass the smell test. No credible reports I've seen of such strike… ISIS has been totally silent. There has not been any ISIS internal chatter about leader being killed picked up by U.S., as far as we know."
All of ISIS undoubtedly followed the leadership evacuating Raqqa- As mentioned repeatedly: Free pass via US/Kurds300 ISIS fighters being killed in one strike fails the smell test?- But not when the US makes such claims.I think Russia is putting pressure on the US. (Two can play the psyop game)Challenging the five eyes perception management narrative promoted via the media, alt and main streamflashback 2014: Mythopoeia- Abu Bakr al Baghdadi
The US, of course, wants you to believe it is real. While the video may be a real video. My stance on this is there is NO Abu Bakr al Baghdadi. Not a living human being. Not one individual. He is a composite. . He moves like the wind through the branches. You hear the branches, but, not al Baghdadi. He is everywhere. He is nowhere. He is whoever he is needed to be.
No information has come along to change my mind on what al Baghdadi is. An actor in the war theatre.