Iraq: Jets hit IS leader al-Baghdadi convoy

Iraqi air force planes on Sunday bombed a convoy with which "Islamic State" (IS) leader al-Baghdadi was traveling, the Iraqi military said in a statement.

"Iraqi air forces have bombed the convoy of the terrorist Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi while he was heading to Karbala to attend a meeting with Daesh commanders," the statement said, referring to the IS by an Arabic acronym.

"The location of the meeting was also bombed and many of the group's leaders were killed and wounded. Fate of murderer al-Baghdadi is unknown and he was carried away by a vehicle. His health condition is still unknown," the statement added.

The strike was carried out on Saturday at noon, Interior Ministry Spokesman Saad Maan told AFP news agency. The operation was conducted with Iraq's intelligence services and the joint operation command center, which also includes military advisers from the US.

Al-Baghdadi, who is reported to have a PhD in Islamic Studies and has taught at Tikrit University, has a $10 million bounty on his head.

Al-Baghdadi has been rarely seen in public since becoming the leader of IS. He was last seen at a mosque in Mosul, in northern Iraq. Militants of the group have seized vast swathes of Iraq and Syria, aiming to establish an Islamic caliphate in the region.

mg/ rc (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)