An Egyptian journalist has published a photograph of a corpse claimed to be that of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Egyptian journalist Ahmed Moussa presented the photo on a popular Egyptian television show on Monday, claiming: "This is the 'caliph' of the 'Islamic State.'" Moussa also claimed that senior officials in the Iraqi government confirmed the corpse was indeed Baghdadi. Rumors of Baghdadi's death have abounded since a coalition airstrike in Iraq's Anbar Province on Saturday. Following the airstrike, a senior Islamic State official posted a message to Twitter, saying Baghdadi was badly wounded and asking to "pray for his recovery." Al Jazeera reported it was impossible to verify the Twitter message. Since Saturday, Baghdadi has not been seen or heard publicly. Regardless, the veracity of Moussa's report was questionable. No official Iraqi source has confirmed the report, and the White House has also been unable to say whether Baghdadi was killed. Iraq's foreign minister said several days ago that the man in line to replace Baghdadi, Islamic State's commander in Iraq Abu Muslim al-Turkmani, was killed last Friday in a coalition airstrike on a convoy near Mosul, Iraq.
Egyptian journalist: Photo is of ISIS leader's corpse
Following coalition airstrike Saturday, Islamic State official posts Twitter message saying leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was badly wounded • No official Iraqi or U.S. source can confirm report of Baghdadi's death • Baghdadi's deputy also allegedly killed.
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