Baghdad, IRAQ (BNO NEWS) – The Iraqi government wrongly confirmed the arrest of Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Al-Baghdadi on Thursday, the third time in just a year.

The Associated Press and the Agence France-Presse, as well as state television, had earlier quoted officials such as the Iraqi army in saying that Al-Baghdadi was arrested in Baghdad earlier on Thursday. Hours later, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army in Iraq told BNO News that their operational reporting does not confirm his capture or arrest.

In 2008, the Iraqi government wrongly confirmed his arrest. Later, the government confirmed that Al-Baghdadi was killed by U.S. forces and this report also turned out false.