Isis confirms death of hugely popular 'minister of war' Omar al-Shishani

The militant leader was hugely popular within the group and his loss is expected to be a significant blow

The militant leader was falsely reported dead on previous occasions (AFP)

Abu Omar al-Shishani, a high ranking Isis commander, has been confirmed as dead by pro-Isis propaganda outlets.

The Chechen-born, hugely popular 'minister of war' was killed in fighting close the the beleaguered Iraqi city of Mosul.

His death - purportedly at the hands of the US - was falsely reported in the past but the claim is now being supported by a number of analysts and pro-Isis social media accounts. However, The Independent has not been able to verify the information.

Isis media outlet Amaq announced the news on Wednesday evening, saying al-Shishani was killed in combat in the Iraqi city of Shirqat, south of Mosul.

Shishani, also known as Omar the Chechen, ranked among America's most wanted militants under a US programme that offered up to $5 million for information to help remove him from the battlefield.

Born in 1986 in Georgia, then still part of the Soviet Union, the red-bearded Shishani had a reputation as a close military adviser to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was said by followers to have relied heavily on Shishani.

In March, the Pentagon said Shishani had likely been killed in a U.S. air strike in Syria.

Iraqi forces are advancing towards Mosul, the largest city still under the control of Islamic State. They have mostly surrounded Shirqat, 250 km (160 miles) north of Baghdad, and last week retook a major air base from the militants to use in the main push on Mosul, 60 km further north.