Russian Military Says It May Have Killed ISIS Leader al-Baghdadi
Whether killed or not, Syrian and Iraqi civilians increasingly caught in the crosshairs as both Russian and U.S. coalition forces target ISIS
Though the country's foreign minister later said there was not "100 percent confirmation," the Russian military on Friday claimed it may have killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), with an airstrike in Syria last month.
If confirmed, al-Baghdadi's death could be major blow to ISIS as its two remaining strongholds in Mosul, Iraq and Raqqa, Syria are both under bombardment. As both U.S. coalition forces and the Russian, who are backing the Syrian government against ISIS and other rebel forces, have committed to the destruction of ISIS, civilians have been caught in the crossfire since the militant group seized territory in both Iraq and Syria in 2014.
- Statement from the Russian Defense Ministry, via state news agency TASS: "The airstrike was carried out overnight to May 28 against a command post, where the IS group's leaders were meeting to discuss the routes for the terrorists'exit from Raqqa through the so-called southern corridor."
- Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's note of caution: "So far, I have no one-hundred-percent confirmation of the information that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed."
- Other cautions, from Reuters: "A colonel with the Iraqi national security service told Reuters Baghdadi was not believed to have been in Raqqa at the time of the strike in late May. One of Baghdadi's aides may have been killed rather than Baghdadi himself, the colonel said." It's not the first time al-Baghdadi has been reported killed (here and here).
- Growing civilian casualties in Syria and Iraq: Despite bombings by either Russian or U.S.-backed forces that may strike their intended targets, civilian casualties are climbing. "We have been killing a lot of civilians in and around Raqqa for quite some time now, yet these incidents are rarely admitted by the coalition and there is almost no interest from international media," said Chris Woods of Airwars this week. "We have to question where the empathy is for the local population."
- White phosphorus: Members of the U.S. coalition condemned by Human Rights Watch for using toxic gas in Mosul and other densely populated areas. "No matter how white phosphorus is used, it poses a high risk of horrific and long-lasting harm in crowded cities like Raqqa and Mosul and any other areas with concentrations of civilians," said Steve Goose, the group's arms director.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Though the country's foreign minister later said there was not "100 percent confirmation," the Russian military on Friday claimed it may have killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), with an airstrike in Syria last month.
If confirmed, al-Baghdadi's death could be major blow to ISIS as its two remaining strongholds in Mosul, Iraq and Raqqa, Syria are both under bombardment. As both U.S. coalition forces and the Russian, who are backing the Syrian government against ISIS and other rebel forces, have committed to the destruction of ISIS, civilians have been caught in the crossfire since the militant group seized territory in both Iraq and Syria in 2014.
- Statement from the Russian Defense Ministry, via state news agency TASS: "The airstrike was carried out overnight to May 28 against a command post, where the IS group's leaders were meeting to discuss the routes for the terrorists'exit from Raqqa through the so-called southern corridor."
- Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's note of caution: "So far, I have no one-hundred-percent confirmation of the information that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed."
- Other cautions, from Reuters: "A colonel with the Iraqi national security service told Reuters Baghdadi was not believed to have been in Raqqa at the time of the strike in late May. One of Baghdadi's aides may have been killed rather than Baghdadi himself, the colonel said." It's not the first time al-Baghdadi has been reported killed (here and here).
- Growing civilian casualties in Syria and Iraq: Despite bombings by either Russian or U.S.-backed forces that may strike their intended targets, civilian casualties are climbing. "We have been killing a lot of civilians in and around Raqqa for quite some time now, yet these incidents are rarely admitted by the coalition and there is almost no interest from international media," said Chris Woods of Airwars this week. "We have to question where the empathy is for the local population."
- White phosphorus: Members of the U.S. coalition condemned by Human Rights Watch for using toxic gas in Mosul and other densely populated areas. "No matter how white phosphorus is used, it poses a high risk of horrific and long-lasting harm in crowded cities like Raqqa and Mosul and any other areas with concentrations of civilians," said Steve Goose, the group's arms director.
Though the country's foreign minister later said there was not "100 percent confirmation," the Russian military on Friday claimed it may have killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), with an airstrike in Syria last month.
If confirmed, al-Baghdadi's death could be major blow to ISIS as its two remaining strongholds in Mosul, Iraq and Raqqa, Syria are both under bombardment. As both U.S. coalition forces and the Russian, who are backing the Syrian government against ISIS and other rebel forces, have committed to the destruction of ISIS, civilians have been caught in the crossfire since the militant group seized territory in both Iraq and Syria in 2014.
- Statement from the Russian Defense Ministry, via state news agency TASS: "The airstrike was carried out overnight to May 28 against a command post, where the IS group's leaders were meeting to discuss the routes for the terrorists'exit from Raqqa through the so-called southern corridor."
- Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's note of caution: "So far, I have no one-hundred-percent confirmation of the information that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed."
- Other cautions, from Reuters: "A colonel with the Iraqi national security service told Reuters Baghdadi was not believed to have been in Raqqa at the time of the strike in late May. One of Baghdadi's aides may have been killed rather than Baghdadi himself, the colonel said." It's not the first time al-Baghdadi has been reported killed (here and here).
- Growing civilian casualties in Syria and Iraq: Despite bombings by either Russian or U.S.-backed forces that may strike their intended targets, civilian casualties are climbing. "We have been killing a lot of civilians in and around Raqqa for quite some time now, yet these incidents are rarely admitted by the coalition and there is almost no interest from international media," said Chris Woods of Airwars this week. "We have to question where the empathy is for the local population."
- White phosphorus: Members of the U.S. coalition condemned by Human Rights Watch for using toxic gas in Mosul and other densely populated areas. "No matter how white phosphorus is used, it poses a high risk of horrific and long-lasting harm in crowded cities like Raqqa and Mosul and any other areas with concentrations of civilians," said Steve Goose, the group's arms director.