City
Epaper

Baghdadi's sister captured by Turkey in Syria: Report

By IANS | Published: November 05, 2019 11:22 AM

Turkish officials have claimed that the sister of slain Islamic State (IS) chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been captured in northern Syria, a BBC report said on Tuesday.

Open in App

The 65-year-old, named as Rasmiya Awad, was detained in a raid on Monday near the town of Azaz, the officials said.

They added that the arrest could yield valuable intelligence about IS.

Little is known about Baghdadi's sister and the BBC has not yet been able to independently verify the identity of the arrested woman.

Baghdadi had five brothers and several sisters, although it is not clear if they are all still alive, according to a New York Times report.

Experts have said that it was not clear how much useful intelligence Awad could provide, or how much time she spent with Baghdadi.

"I don't think she'd be privy to any imminent attack plans, but she might know smuggling routes. She might know networks that Baghdadi trusted, people that he trusted, networks in Iraq that helped her facilitate her own travel and her family's travel," Mike Pregent, a counter terrorism expert at the Washington-based think-tank, Hudson Institute told BBC News.

"This should be able to give our US intelligence and other allied intelligence officers a view into (IS) networks and how they moved family members, how they travelled and who they trusted."

US President Donald Trump announced the death of Baghdadi at a press conference at the White House on October 27.

According to Trump, Baghdadi detonated his suicide vest after fleeing into a tunnel during a US raid on his hideout in Syria's Idlib province.

Trump said DNA tests were carried out to verify Baghdadi's identity, confirming his death.

After the raid, the compound was destroyed in an air strike.

Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Qurashi has since been named as IS's new leader and "caliph".

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: BaghdadiBbc NewsusNew York Times
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalDog Attack in US: Police Officer Shoots at Pack of Pit Bulls as They Maul Man in Philadelphia; Disturbing Video Goes Viral

National‘Unwarranted, Unsubstantiated Claims’: India on the Washington Post Report Identifying RAW Official in Pannun Assassination Case

InternationalUS Shooting: Three Police Officers Shot Dead in Charlotte, North Carolina

InternationalTornado in US: Twisters Tear Across America's Heartland, Leaving Catastrophic Destruction in Many States; Disturbing Visuals Emerge

HealthBird Flu in US Cows: WHO Warns 'Extremely High' Mortality Rate in Humans As H5N1 Spreads to Milk

International Realted Stories

InternationalIndian Navy begins trials in Rs 60,000 crore tender for 6 advanced submarines

InternationalEAM Jaishankar receives ASEAN delegation, says "comprehensive strategic partnership will grow from strength to strength"

International6.0-magnitude quake hits Philippines

InternationalItaly's jobless rate falls to 7.2 pc, lowest in over 15 years

InternationalThree killed, eight injured in blast in Pakistan