Eight IS leaders are were killed in an airstrike in western Iraq, but leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is not believed to be among them.

An earlier statement from the Iraqi military said the reclusive figure was brought away from the scene in an unknown condition.

However, local sources appear to have ruled out his death

A Twitter account which publishes Islamic State propaganda said "rumors" that an air strike had targeted Baghdadi were false. 

The Iraqi military's statement earlier claimed:

"He was heading to Karabla to attend a meeting with Daesh commanders.

"The location of the meeting was also bombed and many of the group's leaders were killed and wounded.

"Fate of murderer al-Baghdadi is unknown and he was carried away by a vehicle. His health condition is still unclear."

Supporters of the terrorist organisation have stated online that even should Al-Baghdadi, who his survived a year of US-led airstrikes, be killed, the 'Islamic State' would survive.

In Syria, Russia's military has also been targeting Islamic State training camps, ammunition dumps and fighting positions.

Moscow officials have claimed 63 airstrikes were performed by its troops over the past 24 hours - destroying a total of 53 sites across four provinces.

It comes after Turkish security sources told Reuters that their initial investigation into yesterday's deadly bombings in Ankara had led them to believe IS was responsible.