If Baghdadi is dead, next IS leader likely to be Saddam-era officer

[TomSea]

If Baghdadi is dead, next IS leader likely to be Saddam-era officer

 By Maher Chmaytelli | BAGHDAD

If Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is confirmed dead, he is likely to be succeeded by one of his top two lieutenants, both of whom were Iraqi army officers under late dictator Saddam Hussein.

Experts on Islamist groups see no clear successor but regard Iyad al-Obaidi and Ayad al-Jumaili as the leading contenders, though neither would be likely to assume Baghdadi's title of "caliph", or overall commander of Muslims.

Russia's defense ministry said last week Baghdadi may have been killed in an air strike in Syria and Interfax news agency quoted a senior Russian parliamentarian on Friday as saying the likelihood that he had been killed was close to 100 percent.

But armed groups fighting in the region and many regional officials are skeptical about the reports.

Continued: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-baghdadi-success-idUSKBN19E1MI