Hard to confirm IS chief death: minister

It's impossible for Australia to confirm whether Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead and efforts are being made by US authorities to verify reports, Justice Minister Michael Keenan says.

Russia's defence ministry says it may have killed Baghdadi when one of its air strikes hit a gathering of Islamic State commanders on the outskirts of the Syrian city of Raqqa.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says it has "confirmed information" that it was the case.

"Certainly he'd be a very high-value target and we'd welcome the fact if he has been killed," Mr Keenan told Sky News on Wednesday.

"But, look, it's impossible for us to confirm that at this stage."