US has no proof IS leader Baghdadi is dead: Mattis

WASHINGTON: Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Friday he cannot confirm whether or not Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead, after reports from Syria that the jihadist leader had been killed, reports AFP.

“If we knew, we would tell you—right now, I can’t confirm or deny it,” Mattis said.“Our approach is we assume he’s alive until it’s proven otherwise, and right now I can’t prove it otherwise.”

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a longtime conflict monitor, said earlier this week it had heard from senior IS leaders in Syria’s Deir Ezzor province that Baghdadi was dead.There was no official confirmation or denial of the news on IS-run social media outlets.“We’ll go after him until he’s gone,” Mattis said.

There have been persistent rumors that Baghdadi has died in recent months.

Russia’s army said in mid-June that it was seeking to verify whether it had killed the IS chief in a May air strike in Syria.

US has no proof IS leader Baghdadi is dead: Mattis

WASHINGTON: Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Friday he cannot confirm whether or not Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead, after reports from Syria that the jihadist leader had been killed, reports AFP. If we knew, we would tell youright now, I cant confirm or deny it, Mattis said.Our approach is we assume hes alive until its proven otherwise, and right now I cant prove it otherwise. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a longtime conflict monitor, said earlier this week it had heard from senior IS leaders in Syrias Deir Ezzor province that Baghdadi was dead.There was no official confirmation or denial of the news on IS-run social media outlets.Well go after him until hes gone, Mattis said. There have been persistent rumors that Baghdadi has died in recent months. Russias army said in mid-June that it was seeking to verify whether it had killed the IS chief in a May air strike in Syria.