The Lebanese authorities have detained a woman and child who they believe are the wife and child of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, officials told The New York Times on Tuesday.

The pair, arrested over a week ago while attempting to enter Lebanon from Syria, were identified by foreign intelligence service, according to reports.

It is not yet known where the mother and child were traveling to Lebanon.

Lebanese officials reportedly appear to be uncertain about the woman and child's identity. There is not much known regarding Baghdadi's personal life. Many jihadi group leaders have multiple wives, but ISIS has not given details about Baghdadi's marital status. In an official biography about him released this year, the author said he is married.

One army official reached by phone told The New York Times that the woman is still being questioned.

"We still don't know how valuable she is," the army official said.

Two officials have said the woman's name is Saja Hamid al-Dulaimi, but her relationship to the ISIS leader has not been confirmed.

"The investigation is still focusing on whether Dulaimi is really Baghdadi's wife," the official said and added that information gathered so far indicated that she was.

Reuters reported that the child detained with Dulaimi was a daughter, not a son.

The Islamic State is known for capturing territory in Iraq and Syria and for distributing videos of its militants beheading hostages, but it has released very little information about its leader who the group recognizes to be caliph, or leader of the world's Muslims.

Baghdadi last appeared publicly in July when he delivered a sermon in Mosul, an Iraqi city. He has since addressed his followers exclusively through spokesmen or audio recordings.

The U.S. has offered up to $10 million for information on Baghdadi's whereabouts.

Related