Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is still alive and in charge, says Pentagon

'If we get the opportunity, we would deliver him the justice he deserves,' says spokesman

Baghdadi is said to have survived for so long through rigorous security measures (Reuters)

Isis chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdidi is alive despite numerous attempts on his life, the Pentagon has confirmed.

Rumours swirled earlier this month that the terror group's leader had been killed after activist group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which is based in London, reported that senior Isis figures had gathered for an emergency meeting in Iraq.

At the time it was speculated that he might have been killed, although this was never officially confirmed.

But Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told CNN that US security agencies "do think Baghdadi is alive and is still leading" the Islamist group.

"We are obviously doing everything we can to track his movements," he said. "If we get the opportunity, we certainly would take advantage of any opportunity to deliver him the justice he deserves," he said.

"We're doing everything we can. This is something we're spending a lot of time on."

Earlier this month the US doubled the bounty on Baghdadi's head to $25 million (£20 million).

The self-declared leader has been careful to reveal little about himself or his whereabouts. The only known video footage of him was taken in 2014, when he gave a sermon in Mosul.

In November he released a defiant audio message, calling on his followers to defend the Iraqi capital.

It is not clear if he is living in the besieged city, where he declared his caliphate in 2014.