Russia has made capturing Jihadi John a priority because the high profile ISIS executioner would be a huge propaganda coup, a US security source has claimed.

But Russian president Vladimir Putin is said to be preparing to send special forces to Syria in a bid to track down the British jihadi, whose real name is Mohammed Emwazi.

They will make the 27-year-old killer their number one target - and could also go after ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, it has been reported.

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Russia is said to be on the verge of sending special forces to Syria in a bid to track down Jihadi John (right), whose real name is Mohammed Emwazi (left)

Russia, under president Vladimir Putin (pictured), has made capturing Jihadi John a priority because the high profile ISIS executioner would be a huge propaganda coup, a US security source has claimed

The Sun quotes a US security source as saying that it is easier for the Russians to carry out 'special forces snatch or kill operations' because Putin has been invited into Syria by President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

'The fear is that Russian forces will begin to target high-value players like Jihadi John and IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

'A successful strike against them would be a massive propaganda coup. If they captured Emwazi alive he would be a major bargaining chip.

'Putin could also say his strong tactics achieved what the West couldn't. It would be a devastating blow to American prestige.'

They will make the 27-year-old killer their number one target - and could also go after ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (pictuered), it has been reported

Jihadi John rose to notoriety after he first appeared in a video posted online in August 2014, in which he appeared to kill the American journalist James Foley.

Dressed all in black with a balaclava covering all but his eyes and the ridge of his nose and a holster under his left arm, he reappeared in videos of the beheadings of US journalist Steven Sotloff, British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning, and American aid worker Peter Kassig.

After months of speculation over his identity, Jihadi John was unmasked as Kuwaiti-born British citizen Emwazi.

Earlier this month, David Cameron declared he wanted to catch Jihadi John 'dead or alive' as he promised to double the number of drones targeting ISIS.