The leader of the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been wounded, the Syrian ambassador to Moscow Riad Haddad told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
Reports of al-Baghdadi's death, citing ISIS-linked news agency Amaq, emerged earlier this week, although there has been no official evidence confirming it. Haddad, who features prominently in Russian news, was asked to confirm or deny the reports of al-Baghdadi's death.
"On the subject of his killing, there is no accurate information, but I know specifically that he has been wounded," Haddad said. "But that does not matter because soon not only the leader of ISIS but every other member of the group will be killed."
Haddad did not elaborate on how al-Baghdadi was wounded; whether it was during a U.S. coalition airstrike or a Russian-Syrian assault. However, during the rest of the interview, he did take a swipe at regional rival Turkey, accusing them of trading oil with ISIS.
Haddad also accused the Syrian opposition of lacking unity to successfully participate in peace talks but said Damascus would be prepared to return to the negotiating table.
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