The alleged death of ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a Russian Aerospace Forces strike could help facilitate the liberation of its stronghold of Raqqa in northern Syria, a senior Russian senator told Sputnik.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Friday its attack and multirole aircraft may have killed Baghdadi on the southern outskirts of Raqqa on May 28. It noted that it was in the process of confirming the information through various channels.

“Ultimately, this will help solve the task of freeing Raqqa,” chairman of the Council of the Federation Committee on Defense and Security Victor Ozerov said.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated Friday that the Russian aerospace forces’ strike conducted on May 28, allegedly killed ISIL leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi south of Raqqa. The verification is ongoing.

Source: Sputnik