Ayad al- Jumaili, who was an intelligence officer under Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi president overthrown in the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Has been confirmed dead by the Iraqi state TV
Ayad al-Jumaili, who is believed to be the deputy of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has been killed in an air strike, Iraqi State TV said on Saturday, citing Iraqi military intelligence.
The U.S.-led anti-Islamic State coalition said it was unable at the moment to confirm the report.
Iraqi TV said Jumaili was killed by an Iraqi air force in the region of al-Qaim with other Islamic State commanders, happened close to the border with Syria. Though it did not give the date or detail of the raid
From the directorate of military intelligence, a statement was released via state TV, that the air force's planes executed with accuracy a strike on the Islamic State headquarters of Daesh in al-Qaim resulting in the killing of Ayad al-Jumaili also known as Abu Yahya who is the war minister.
Baghdadi is believed to be hiding in the desert with some senior commanders, and has left operational commanders with stubbornly resisting followers to fight the battle of mosul.
The city of Mosul where Baghdadi declared a caliphate three years ago, which is believed to be Islamic State's stronghold in Iraq is under serious attack by Iraqi forces, backed by a U.S led coalition to be retaken.
Tens of thousands of refugees have been fleeing the city to escape the fighting.
A separate battle is in preparation in Syria to drive Islamic State from its stronghold there, the city of Raqqa.
Jumaili led Islamic State's top security agency in Iraq and Syria, known as Amniya, answering directly to Baghdadi, according to experts.
PHOTO CREDIT: BING.COM
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