The British government has received reports that Jihadi John, the terrorist executioner who gained international notoriety for committing a series of gruesome hostage beheadings earlier this year, has been injured in an airstrike carried out by U.S. and Iraqi forces.
Jihadi John was reportedly in a bunker in northern Iraq with ISIS leadership when the airstrike was carried out, according to the Mail on Sunday . The meeting occurred last Saturday in an Iraqi town close to the Syrian border, and was struck by both American and Iraqi jets. In addition, the strike also killed an estimated 10 ISIS terrorists. Elusive ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was also believed to have been injured in the airstrike, as the Inquisitr reported.
“Jihadi John” reportedly wounded in airstrike – The Telegraph http://t.co/j7OAdnrz9k pic.twitter.com/w0OcTg4w2g
— Vostvitzech (@Vostvitzech) November 16, 2014
As the Telegraph notes, the British Foreign Office said that it had received reports that Jihadi John had been injured, but was unable to confirm them, citing a lack of resources in Syria. It is not known whether Jihadi John was targeted in the strike, or happened to be present when it was carried out.
INFOGRAPHIC: How Jihadi John was targeted and wounded in an airstrike. pic.twitter.com/fZVrV264BW
— American Jihad Watch (@Watcherone) November 16, 2014
The Mail on Sunday cited a nurse who treated the wounded in a hospital in Deir-ez-Zour as a source, saying she confirmed a man named “Jalman” was on the injured list. Jihadi John uses the nomme de guerre Jalman Al-Britani. The nurse also identified the man as “the one who slaughtered the journalists.”
BREAKING: FBI has confirmed identity of ‘Jihadi John,’ ISIS militant who murdered US hostages. @ABC pic.twitter.com/CcECAgYzCk
— NewsBreaker (@NewsBreaker) September 25, 2014
Though it was unclear how badly Al-Baghdadi and Jihadi John were injured, they were taken to the Al Qaim General Hospital for treatment. Another source informed the Mail on Sunday that wounded ISIS personnel, including Jihadi John and Al-Baghdadi, were then transported to Syria, reaching the stronghold of Raqqa.
Tomorrow’s @DailyMailUK claims that #ISIS executioner “Jihadi John” has been wounded in a U.S. airstrike. pic.twitter.com/XSOcuO7Y82
— Andrew Peng (@TheAPJournalist) November 15, 2014
The source also provided more details about Jihadi John, who became one of the world’s most wanted terrorists after beheading American and British hostages earlier this year. Believed to formerly have been a prison guard for ISIS, he has risen to a position of seniority in the organization, unlike other western recruits. Jihadi John has also been made a member of a shura council, or governing body, of an ISIS province.
[Image via the Telegraph ]