Why is Russian military skeptical about US claim of Baghdadi's killing?
The Russian military's incredulity about the US raid that killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has some basis in practical reasons that go beyond just "great power jealousy."
Russia’s Defense Ministry has cast doubt on US claims of killing Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi despite the evidence of his death from Turkey, an Astana format partner, and Iraq’s joint intelligence-sharing center.
Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, the chief of media services for the Russian Defense Ministry, said, “The escalating number of direct participants and countries that supposedly took part in the ‘operation,' each one with completely contradictory details, justifiably raises questions and doubts about whether it happened, never mind succeeded.”
Konashenkov said the military was not aware of any alleged Russian assistance for the passage of American flights into the airspace of the Idlib de-escalation zone during the Baghdadi operation. Trump, however, thanked Russia for opening up airspace in Syria for the strike.
Moreover, the Russian Defense Ministry questioned the idea that Baghdadi had found shelter in an area controlled by Jabhat al-Nusra.
