Conflicting reports have emerged about the fate of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who is believed to have been grievously injured in a coalition air strike in March.
A western diplomat and an Iraqi adviser were quoted as saying that the airstrikes took place in western Iraq, reported the BBC.
Reports claimed that the terror leader was seriously injured in a coalition-led attack on a three-car convoy on March 18 and is believed to be making a slow recovery.
Hisham al-Hashimi, an Iraqi official, said that the attack took place in Al Baaj near the village of Umm al-Rous. A western diplomat too, confirmed the location.
Officials said that three men are believed to have been killed in the attacks but they did not know at the time if Baghdadi was in one of the vehicles.
The wounded leader is believed to have been spending most of his time in Al Baaj, 322 km west of Mosul, as the Americans do not have much cover there.
The Pentagon however, said that it had no information on Baghdadi's fate and added that last year's reports of him being injured were inaccurate.
Pentagon officials said that while a strike in that area indeed happened on March 18, there was no evidence then or since that Baghdadi was present.
The strike was not aimed at a high-value target, officials said. “We have no reason to believe it was Baghdadi,” Army Col Steven Warren, a Pentagon spokesman said.
