The US military has conducted a raid against Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the elusive leader of the Islamic State (IS) terror group, an operation, which according to American officials, has reportedly resulted in his death.
Newsweek cited an anonymous US army official briefed on the results of the operation as saying al-Baghdadi was killed in the raid on Saturday and reported that the Defence Department told the White House that they have "high confidence" that the target killed was the IS leader, pending DNA and biometric testing, Efe news reported.
Earlier in the day, CNN, citing a senior US defence official and an informed source, reported that al-Baghdadi was killed in a raid conducted by American forces in northeast Syria on Saturday.
But there was no official confirmation of either the raid or al-Baghdadi's killing.
Turkey says it coordinated
Turkey on Sunday said there was "coordination" between Ankara and Washington before the operation which US media reports said targeted and killed Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
"Prior to the US Operation in Idlib Province of Syria last night, information exchange and coordination between the military authorities of both countries took place," the Turkish defence ministry said in a tweet.
It did not give details.
The elusive chief of IS was believed to be dead after a US military raid in the Idlib region, US media reported earlier on Sunday.
The helicopters targeted a home and a car outside the village of Barisha, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, in the operation which killed nine people.
US President Donald Trump is expected to make a "major statement" on Sunday at 9:00 am (1300 GMT), the White House said.
Some US media reports quoted government sources saying Baghdadi may have killed himself with a suicide vest as US special operations forces descended.
DNA Tests
US defence officials on Sunday said that final confirmation regarding the death of Islamic State chief, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, will come only after the DNA and biometric tests are conducted.
Baghdadi, the most notorious IS leader, has been in hiding for the last five years.
On Saturday, US Special Operation Commandos carried out a risky raid in northwestern Syria against Baghdadi's hideouts in the Idlib province.
Though the Trump administration is yet to announce the death of Baghdadi, media has reported that he was killed in the operation conducted by US Army's elite Delta Force.
With inputs from agencies
