Russia denies assisting US special forces to eliminate ISIS leader
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that it knew nothing about "allowing the flight of US aircraft" into Syrian airspace to conduct the special operation to eliminate the leader of the Islamic State Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, reports RBC news agency, citing the statement of the spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry Igor Konashenkov.
The Russian Defense Ministry claims that there are no records of a recent US or coalition airstrikes in the Syrian province to kill the terrorist.
"The increase in the number of direct participants and countries allegedly participating in this "operation," each giving contradictory details, create reasonable questions and doubts about its reality and success," said Konashenkov as quoted by Interfax news agency.
He added that "another death" of Abū Bakr al-Baghdadi has absolutely no operational impact on the situation in Syria or the actions of the remaining terrorists in Idlib."
Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced the killing of al-Baghdadi. He also thanked Russia for its assistance in the flight of US air equipment over the territory of Syria but noted that Moscow didn't have information on what was the reason for American troops to go to Idlib.