UN Says Cannot Verify Accuracy of Reports on Baghdadi's Death
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The spokesman for the UN Secretary-General said the intergovernmental organization “cannot personally verify the accuracy” of reports on the death of Daesh ringleader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
"We’ve taken note of the announcement by the President of the United States on the death of Abu Bakr al‑Baghdadi, the leader of the UN‑designated terrorist group Daesh," Farhan Haq said in a press briefing Monday, Xinhua reported.
However, he said the UN "cannot personally verify the accuracy of this."
"We trust the reliability of the various sources of information that have been speaking up, but, obviously, any sort of information would need to be verified by the various authorities on the ground," he noted.
When asked why the UN was only taking note of, and not welcoming the death of Daesh chief who was killed in a weekend operation, Haq stuck to the wording and refused to welcome the development.
"This is one of the events that we’ve taken note of. We’ve made very clear that any progress against Daesh is to be welcomed. The Secretary‑General and the many branches of the UN, including our offices dealing with political affairs, with counterterrorism and others, have repeatedly urged all Member States to work together in the fight against Daesh, and any progress against them is to be commended," he added.
"Daesh has committed heinous crimes and brought tragedy and death to thousands of men, women and children. And we should take this moment to remember the victims and families of victims of terrorism," Haq said.
US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had died during a “dangerous and daring” nighttime operation in Syria.