"British" leader of the Islamic State dies in US attack in Syria, say monitors

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A leading British member of the Islamic State and three other foreign militants were killed by air strikes led by the United States in the Syrian city of Raqqa, said on Friday the Syrian Observatory monitoring group for Human Rights.

A US official said earlier that an attack in the area probably killed the British known as "Jihadi John," which appeared in videos showing the murder of American and British hostages.

"A car carrying four foreign leaders of the Islamic State, including a British jihadist, was hit by US air strikes near the town of Raqqa government building," said Rami Abdulrahman, head of the monitoring group based in Britain, Reuters.

"All sources in place are saying that the body of a leading British jihadist is in a hospital in Raqqa. All sources are saying it is Jihadi John, but I can not confirm personally," he added.

US officials said the United States conducted an air strike in Syria on Thursday targeting the British militant, who was identified as Mohammed Emwazi.

The Pentagon said it was still investigating the effects of the attack on the Syrian city of Raqqa, de facto capital of the Islamic State.

If the death is confirmed, it would be an important progress in the US-led campaign against the group, after a year of the US president promises, Barack Obama, justice for the deaths of American hostages.