Kurdish And Iraqi Intelligence: ISIS Leader Al-Baghdadi Is Still Alive

A man purported to be the reclusive leader of the militant Islamic State Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi making what would have been his first public appearance, at a mosque in the centre of Iraq's second city, Mosul, according to a video recording posted on the Internet on... REUTERS/Social Media Website via Reuters TV/File Photo

Reuters: Exclusive: Islamic State leader Baghdadi almost certainly alive - Kurdish security official

Sulaimania, IRAQ (Reuters) - A top Kurdish counter-terrorism official said on Monday he was 99 percent sure that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was alive and located south of the Syrian city of Raqqa, after reports that he had been killed.

"Baghdadi is definitely alive. He is not dead. We have information that he is alive. We believe 99 percent he is alive," Lahur Talabany told Reuters in an interview.

"Don't forget his roots go back to al Qaeda days in Iraq. He was hiding from security services. He knows what he is doing."

Iraqi security forces have ended three years of Islamic State rule in the Iraqi city of Mosul, and the group is under growing pressure in Raqqa - both strongholds in the militants' crumbling self-proclaimed caliphate.

Still, Talabany said Islamic State was shifting tactics despite low morale and it would take three or four years to eliminate the group.

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More News On Reports That ISIS Leader Al-Baghdadi Is Still Alive

Isil leader Baghdadi 'definitely still alive', say Iraqi and Kurdish intel chiefs -- The Telegraph
Russia Killed ISIS Leader Baghdadi? Kremlin Says It Still Isn't Sure -- Newsweek
Al-Baghdadi reportedly still alive -- SKY News
ISIS leader al-Baghdadi is still ALIVE, says Iraqi counter-terrorism official, who warns the group is set to turn itself into 'Al-Qaeda on steroids' -- Daily Mail
Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is 'definitely alive' say Kurdish officials -- IBTimes
Kurdish Agent: 99% Odds Al-Baghdadi is Alive -- Al-Bawaba
Kremlin says 'contradictory' reports on Baghdadi death -- AFP
Kremlin says Russian special services checking info on IS leader’s liquidation -- TASS