Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's Son Killed in Syria

The propaganda and news outlet of the group known as the Islamic State reports that the son of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of this group, was killed during a battle in Homs, western Syria. The news network 'Amaq' stated on July 3 that 'Hudhayfah al-Badri' was killed during 'operations against the Nusayri forces and Russia at the Homs power plant.' Nusayri is another term used for Alawite believers, and in this news, the Islamic State refers to the Syrian army forces. The attacks by the Syrian and Russian armies on one side and the U.S.-led coalition on the other have significantly reduced ISIS's influence and presence in Syria. Current estimates indicate that the group, which once controlled large parts of Syrian territory, now holds only three percent of it. Last January, the U.S.-led international coalition against ISIS reported that the number of 'Islamic State' fighters remaining in Iraq and Syria is 'less than a thousand.' Nevertheless, the United States and Iraqi officials believe that the leader of ISIS is still alive and resides somewhere in Syria, near the Iraqi border. The Iraqi army has conducted airstrikes against ISIS in Syrian territory near its border. Earlier in July, the Iraqi Joint Operations Command announced that in an airstrike on a meeting of leaders of the group known as 'Islamic State' in the city of Hajin, Syria, 45 members of this group, including several of its leaders and commanders, were killed. Al-Baghdadi, who is originally Iraqi, is currently wanted, and the United States has set a reward of $25 million for him. According to reports, he has four children from his first wife and one child from his second wife.