Russia's Defence Ministry said that Russian air strikes in Syria had killed one of Daesh's most prominent leaders, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani.
The ministry said that Adnani was one of up to 40 rebels killed on Tuesday by air strikes carried out by a Russian Su-34 bomber in Maaratat-Umm Khaush in Aleppo province.
Daesh said on Tuesday Adnani had been killed in what appeared to be an US air strike in Syria. A US defense official told Reuters the United States targeted Adnani in a strike but stopped short of confirming his death.
Russia's Defence Ministry said Adnani's killing by the Russian air strike had been confirmed "through several intelligence channels".
The Amaq News Agency reported on Tuesday that Adnani was killed "while surveying the operations to repel the military campaigns against Aleppo".
