Russia claims it killed two more Islamic State commanders in Syria: Ifax

On Friday, #Russia's Ministry of Defense said it was cross-examining information to confirm if an airstrike by Russian forces may have killed #ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-#Baghdadi near Raqqa in Syria late May.

"The Russians are trying to improve their record fighting Daesh as it was the Americans who have killed the top commanders of the group so far, like Abu Omar al-Shishani, Abu Muslim al-Turkmani, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani and Abu Ali al-Anbari", he said, using an Arabic acronym of Islamic State.

The ministry's statement said the Russian airstrike may also have killed 330 terrorists, state-run Sputnik reported. Col. Ryan Dillon, a spokesman for the US-led coalition's operation against ISIS in Syria and Iraq, said the coalition "cannot confirm these reports at this time".

The ministry said that around 180 fighters were killed, and that 16 military vehicles were destroyed along with weapons stores.

The ministry said the strike came as IS leaders gathered to discuss the group's withdrawal from Raqqa, the group's de facto capital.

In the unlikely event that al-Baghdadi stuck around Raqqa, why in the world would he, a shadowy figure of a man known for taking elaborate security measures to ensure his safety, recklessly endanger himself by attending such a large meeting?

United States defense officials said they were unable to confirm the reports.

Senior White House officials who briefed reporters Thursday on the coming announcement said Obama's overtures had enriched Cuba's military while repression increased on the island.

Minutes after midnight of the said date, an airstrike was done near Raqqa in Syria, where Russian Federation believes a gathering of around 30 ISIS leaders and 300 militants took place.

At the news conference, Lavrov noted that if al-Baghdadi's death is confirmed, its importance mustn't be overestimated. In June past year, there were claims that he had been killed during a US air strike, but it turned out to be a hoax concocted by an ISIS-controlled news agency.

"The information is that as of the end of last month Baghdadi was in Deir al-Zor, in the area between Deir al-Zor and Iraq, in Syrian territory", he said by phone.

Who is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi? The group has lost many of its top commanders in US -led airstrikes, including Fadhil Ahmad al-Hayali, said by USA officials to be the second in command.

By restricting individual U.S.travel to Cuba, the new policy also risks cutting off a major source of income for Cuba's private business sector, which the policy is meant to support.

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