Trump said Islamic State supreme leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had died after a night raid by US troops in Syria.

Baghdadi killed himself by detonating a bomb belt, US President Donald Trump said today in a statement from the White House on television. "He is a sick and perverted man and now he is no more," the US president declared.

Baghdadi's death was an important victory for President Trump after he unexpectedly decided to withdraw US troops from Syria and received a series of fierce criticism, from both Republican members, that this move will help the Islamic State (IS) revive.

"The thugs who used to attempt to intimidate others spent their final moments in fear and panic when American forces surrounded him," Trump said. "He ran to the end of the tunnel while being chased by our dogs. He activated the suicide bomb belt next to his three. His body was not intact, buried in the tunnel."

According to Trump, Russia has opened the airspace for the raid and the Kurdish allies also provide a lot of useful information. The US forces involved in the operation included Delta team of the US Joint Task Force Command. The only casualties for American forces is a dog.

The White House boss insisted that the military operation to destroy Baghdadi would not change his decision to withdraw troops from Syria.

Baghdadi was born in Iraq, thought to be about 47 - 49 years old. He became the IS supreme leader in 2010 and led the group to gain vast territories in Iraq and Syria. In May 2014, Baghdadi announced the establishment of an Islamic state in Mosul, Iraq, and that was his only public appearance.

US-backed militia forces in late March defeated ISIS at Baghouz stronghold in Syria, but failed to capture Baghdadi. The Supreme Leader IS and many of his trusted followers are believed to be hiding in desert areas on the border between Iraq and Syria.

In April, Baghdadi made its first appearance in five years in a video acknowledging the defeat in Syria, but insisted the group would not surrender and continue revenge for the killed militants. During a re-export in September, Baghdadi asked his subordinates to release ISIS members from the prison to continue their attacks in many countries and target the judges investigating members of the group.