President Donald Trump on Saturday attacked The New York Times and its "sick agenda," alleging that one of the paper's reports thwarted a US bid to take out Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

"The Failing New York Times foiled US attempt to kill the single most wanted terrorist, al-Baghdadi. Their sick agenda over National Security," Mr Trump wrote in one of a barrage of early morning tweets.

Mr Trump did not expand on his charge against The Times, or explain what revelation by the daily is supposed to have hampered Baghdadi's capture.