There is no evidence that Australian Islamic State fighter Khaled Sharrouf was killed in a drone attack in Syria, although the death of fellow extremist and friend Mohamed Elomar can be confirmed, according to a report by News Corp Australia.
Classified images captured by the US military in al-Raqqah have confirmed the death of Sydney man Elomar, 30, in the drone strike, News Corp reported on Sunday. Authorities say one image clearly shows debris from a four-wheel-drive he was standing beside when the missile struck.
However, none of the photographs suggest Sharrouf was killed in the Predator drone missile strike on an Islamic State convoy, authorities said. Family members have claimed Sharrouf was also killed and have been trying to negotiate the return to Australia of his five children from Syria.
Elomar made world headlines after images were posted online of him posing with severed heads. The report underscores the difficulty in confirming deaths in conflict zones, even with advanced surveillance.
