Recommended

Iraqi Air Force Kills 8 ISIS Leaders as US, Russia Spar Over Syria

Russian Navy firing missiles to combat Islamic State in Syria.
Russian Navy firing missiles to combat Islamic State in Syria. | (Photo: Screengrab/RT.com)
Map of Syria showing control by cities and areas held as of Sept. 27. Includes location of recent air strikes.
Map of Syria showing control by cities and areas held as of Sept. 27. Includes location of recent air strikes. | (Photo: Reuters/Map)
U.S. President Barack Obama extends his hand to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, September 28, 2015.
U.S. President Barack Obama extends his hand to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, September 28, 2015. | (Photo: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
Christian Syrian refugee Ghassan Aleid displays his Syrian passport at a terminal at the Charles-de-Gaulle Airport in Roissy, France, October 2, 2015. After the efforts of the mayor of Le Mans and a family member, a doctor residing in Le Mans, France accorded travel visas, requested a year ago, for the family who fled the conflict in Syria.
Christian Syrian refugee Ghassan Aleid displays his Syrian passport at a terminal at the Charles-de-Gaulle Airport in Roissy, France, October 2, 2015. After the efforts of the mayor of Le Mans and a family member, a doctor residing in Le Mans, France accorded travel visas, requested a year ago, for the family who fled the conflict in Syria. | (Photo: Reuters/Stephane Mahe)
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad speaks during an interview with the Iranian Khabar TV channel in this handout photograph released by Syria's national news agency SANA on October 4, 2015. Al-Assad said the success of a military campaign by Russia, Syria and its allies was vital to save the Middle East from destruction, a day after Moscow said it would step up air strikes against Islamic State targets across Syria.
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad speaks during an interview with the Iranian Khabar TV channel in this handout photograph released by Syria's national news agency SANA on October 4, 2015. Al-Assad said the success of a military campaign by Russia, Syria and its allies was vital to save the Middle East from destruction, a day after Moscow said it would step up air strikes against Islamic State targets across Syria. | (Photo: Reuters/SANA/Handout via Reuters)
View Photos

The Iraqi military has killed eight senior Islamic State officials but the terror group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was not among them the government said on Sunday.

Iraqi officials said the air force struck an IS meeting location and a convoy that was carrying Baghdadi, but Baghdadi was driven away from the scene and his condition is yet unknown.

"The Iraqi military's announcement was the latest unconfirmed report of the possible death or injury of Baghdadi, who has survived a year of U.S.-led air strikes and multi-sided wars in two countries since proclaiming himself caliph of all Muslims after his forces swept through most of northern Iraq last year," Reuters reports. 

Get Our Latest News for FREE

Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know.

Earlier this week, the Kremlim claimed that four Russian warships in the Caspian Sea fired 26 missiles striking IS targets.

"Four missile ships launched 26 cruise missiles at 11 targets. According to objective control data, all the targets were destroyed. No civilian objects sustained damage," said Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu.

Aside from the naval attack, Russia claims to have hit IS through a series of airstrikes in recent weeks. The U.S. Defense Department, however, argues that the Kremlin has done little to stop IS, and is instead attacking  U.S.-backed rebels who are fighting against both the Assad regime and IS, Reuters reports.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter criticized Russia's airstrikes have been targeting anti-Assad rebels including the Syrian National Council who lost at least 36 people, including dozens of civilians and five children who were killed in the airstrikes.

"It does appear that they were in areas where there probably were not ISIL forces, and that is precisely one of the problems with this whole approach," he said.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington D.C. would have "grave concerns" if Russia was intentionally attacking rebels fighting against the Assad regime.

"Strikes of that kind would question Russia's real intentions fighting (IS) or protecting the Assad regime," said Kerry.

France also believes Russia has been insincere in its proposed attacks against IS.

"Russian forces struck Syria and curiously didn't hit Islamic State," said French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Despite the skepticism from the U.S. and other nations, an official of the Russian Orthodox Church said earlier this month his country is fighting a "holy battle" in Syria by attacking ISIS.

"The fight with terrorism is a holy battle and today our country is perhaps the most active force in the world fighting it," said Vsevolod Chaplin, head of the Church's public affairs department to Interfax News Agency.

Patriarch Kirll, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church also supports the airstrikes.

"Russia took a responsible decision to use military forces to protect Syrian people from the woes brought on by the tyranny of terrorists," he said in an official statement last week.

Contact: Vincent.funaro@christianpost.com; follow me on Twitter @vinfunaro

Was this article helpful?

Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone.

By making a recurring donation or a one-time donation of any amount, you're helping to keep CP's articles free and accessible for everyone.

We’re sorry to hear that.

Hope you’ll give us another try and check out some other articles. Return to homepage.

Most Popular

More Articles