US Airstrike Against The Islamic State May Have Killed A Key Leader Of The Militant Group

U.S.-led airstrikes against the Islamic State targeted a meeting of area ISIS officials, possibly killing leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Two witnesses told Reuters the strike targeted a house where senior Islamic State officers were meeting.

Local television channel al-Hadath said dozens were either wounded or killed, and ISIS fighters evacuated a hospital to treat survivors. Area residents said there were unconfirmed reports al-Baghdadi and his deputy had been killed. U.S. officials would not confirm nor deny al-Baghdadi had been targeted in the attack.

However, one did say that airstrikes were carried out against a convoy outside Mosul, Iraq, and against Islamic State units elsewhere, but had not targeted an Islamic State gathering. That convoy consisted of 10 trucks.

The reports come after car bombs killed 20 people in Baghdad and Ramadi. The attacks resembled those previously carried out by ISIS fighters.

Officials on both Iraqi and Western sides say that such air strikes will not be sufficient to beat the militant group.