UPDATE - Baghdadi ‘killing’: Anadolu Agency shoots video of area

UPDATES WITH INFORMATION ON CAPTURED VIDEO, DETAILS OF OPERATION, STATEMENT BY TURKISH MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE ON COORDINATION WITH US

By Burak Karacaoglu and Esref Musa

ANKARA (AA) - Anadolu Agency on Sunday captured video of the location in northern Syria where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the head of terrorist group Daesh, or ISIS, was allegedly killed by U.S. forces.

The footage showed a collapsed building, a burnt vehicle and damaged civilian houses and tents in the area. It also suggested that bombings have left craters on the ground.

Local sources told Anadolu Agency the operation was held with the contribution of two drones, eight helicopters and ground units and lasted for four hours.

In a Twitter post, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense said: “Prior to the U.S. Operation in Idlib Province of Syria last night, information exchange and coordination between the military authorities of both countries took place."

U.S. media reports early Sunday said that al-Baghdadi is believed to have been killed in a U.S. raid, but there has been no official confirmation.

Baghdadi's whereabouts and status have long been a mystery, and multiple claims have been made that he was killed in various battlefields in Iraq or Syria.

*Writing by Ali Murat Alhas