"Jihadi John" probably killed in U.S. airstrikes in Syria: monitor

At least four foreign militants with the Islamic State (IS), likely including the notorious "Jihadi John," were killed in U.S.-led airstrikes in Syria's northern province of al-Raqqa, the de facto capital of IS, a monitor group reported Friday.

The U.S.-led coalition conducted multiple strikes against a vehicle carrying IS militants off the municipal building in central al-Raqqa late on Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The UK-based watchdog group, which relies on a network of activists on ground, said the four bodies were charred, one of which was a British commander with the IS.

Other reports speculated that the slain British militant was the notorious "Jihadi John," the executioner who appeared in several video footages beheading captives of the IS.

"Jihadi John," whose real name is Mohammed Emwazi, was said to be killed in a U.S. drone strike on al-Raqqa over Thursday evening.

On Friday, UK officials said there is a "high degree of certainty" that Emwazi was killed.

The U.S.-led anti-terror coalition has been striking IS positions in Syria since last year. Syrian officials have questioned the true intentions of the U.S. strikes, saying it has done so little to quell the momentum of the IS group. Endit