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Live blog update| Islamic State

Militant leader reportedly killed

The United States has carried out an operation in Syria targeting Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State group (IS), US officials have said. He is believed to be dead.

Baghdadi, who oversaw the militant group's rise and fall, has been in hiding for years. There have been several claims of his death in the past, but US media are reporting his death with much certainty. US President Donald Trump is set to speak at 13:00 GMT.

The militant leader reportedly killed himself with a suicide vest. You can read Middle East Eye's story on the operation here: Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi believed dead in US raid

Otherwise MEE will be tracking the the developments throughout the day here on this live blog.