A+ A-

Iraq confirms ISIL leader Al-Baghdadi wounded, others killed

BAGHDAD, Nov 10 (KUNA) -- The Iraqi Interior Ministry on Monday confirmed reports that the head of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi was wounded in an airstrike by the US-led coalition.
Al-Baghdadi's two personal guards and leading members in the jihadist group were killed in the attack. The wounded leader was hurriedly moved into Syria.
The ministry referred to a document by its Federal Intelligence and Investigative Agency (FIIA) stating that the 'hawks intelligence cell' launched a strike targeting an ISIL gathering including "the terrorist Al-Baghdadi" who was injured while other leading figures in the group were killed.
ISIL militants killed in the airstrike include 'Abu Qutaiba', reportedly Mufti of what is known as 'Wilayat al-Furat' (Euphrates Province), responsible for executing many Iraqi citizens by the insurgent group.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense said that it was investigating potential death of Al-Baghdadi in the attack that claimed the life of his closest aide known as Abu Muslim Al-Turkomani.
The US Army had previously announced that a coalition airstrike targeted a gathering of ISIL leaders in western Iraqi border town of Al-Qaim. (end) mhg.msa