Insights

It is being widely reported that Abu Bakr al- Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed leader of Islamic State, has been killed in a Russian airstrike in Raqqa. The terrorist chief was reportedly meeting with commanders in the city to plan a last-ditch defence attempt of the besieged city. The defence ministry in Moscow has confirmed that an attack was carried out on 28 May, after information was received about the meeting. They stated, “according to the information which is now being checked via various channels, present at the meeting was [Isis] leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was eliminated at the strike.” If confirmed, the death of al-Baghdadi would be a major symbolic and strategic blow to Islamic State, who have lost swathes of territory in recent months.