Fresh speculation Sharrouf killed

An online post by a fellow Islamic State fighter has prompted fresh speculation that notorious Australian jihadist Khaled Sharrouf has been killed.

Australian Islamic State fighter Neil Prakash has paid tribute to fellow jihadist Khaled Sharrouf, prompting fresh speculation he has been killed.

Prakash, one of the terror group's top Australian recruiters, posted the tribute on Twitter on July 31, referencing Sharrouf by his nom de guerre, Abu Zarqawi Al Australi.

"I ask Allah swt to grant my dear beloved brother Abu Zarqawi Al Australi a shahadah that's accepted," the post read.

There were unconfirmed reports in June that Sharrouf had been killed in an airstrike along with fellow Islamic State fighter Mohamed Elomar.

Sharrouf and Elomar gained notoriety last year when they posted pictures online of themselves holding the severed heads of enemy soldiers.