Report: Lebanese Officials Capture Wife of Islamic State Leader

Lebanese media outlets are reporting that the wife of the head of the Islamic State was recently detained by authorities while trying to cross into the country from Syria.

Although officials have not confirmed the report, several media outlets are claiming that one of the wives of Abu Bakr Baghdadi, head of the Islamic State terrorist organization, was captured at an unknown border crossing. The woman, whose identity has not been released, is reportedly being held at the Ministry of Defense, where she is being investigated.

The Lebanese media outlet As-Safir reported that the wife was caught by authorities when she was traveling with a fake identification from Syria to Lebanon. The newspaper described the wife's capture as a "great security achievement" and "a preemptive blow" against the terrorist organization that has taken over areas of Syria and Iraq.

An anonymous security source added to the AFP that the woman detained by Lebanese authorities is of Syrian nationality. The source also claimed that one of Baghdadi's sons, around eight or nine years old, was also detained with the wife.

"It is his second wife," the source added.

Baghdadi is said to be the one who declared a "caliphate" in the Middle East to force citizens into a strict observation of Shariah law, prompting the U.S. to begin airstrikes in Syria and Iraq to stop the spread of the Islamic State.

As The Washington Post reports, Lebanese officials may be able to use Baghdadi's wife as a bargaining chip for the release of hostages being held by the Islamic State.