DUSHANBE, 16.06.2017. /NIAT «Khovar»/. Russia’s Defense Ministry has said it is verifying reports that the Islamic State terrorist group’s leader Ibrahim Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed by a Russian airstrike on the southern suburb of Syria’s Raqqa in late May, Kazinform reports.

The airstrike was carried out overnight to May 28 against a command post, where the IS group’s leaders were meeting to discuss the routes for the terrorists’ exit from Raqqa through the so-called southern corridor, the ministry said in a statement.

«According to information, which is being verified via different channels, the meeting was also attended by the IS leader Ibrahim Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was eliminated in the strike,» the ministry said.

According to Xinhua news agency, the U.S. side was notified in advance on the time and location of the Russian air force operation, it said.

Reports about the death of the IS chief have been circulating in some media for several days, but there has been no official confirmation of it.