IS releases recording of al-Baghdadi
NEW YORK: The Islamic State group issued on Thursday what appears to be the first recording in nearly a year of its reclusive leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a move that seems intended to silence rumours of his death and to galvanise his pummelled troops.
The 46-minute audio recording would be the first time since November that supporters of the jihadi group have heard the voice of their self-proclaimed caliph.
The group has lost significant territory, including Mosul, Iraq, and much of the group’s capital, Raqqa, Syria. In the recording, al-Baghdadi praised his foot soldiers for waging a tenacious battle in Mosul.
“They fulfilled their promise and their responsibility, and they did not give up except over their skulls and body parts,” he said. “Thus, they were excused, after nearly a year of fighting and confrontation.”
Al-Baghdadi, 46, made indirect references to recent attacks on the Underground in London, in the heart of Barcelona and in Russia.
“Now, the Americans, the Russians and the Europeans are living in terror in their countries, fearing the strikes of the mujahidin,” he said.
Although the recording’s authenticity could not be immediately confirmed, the voice on the tape sounds the same as that of other recordings of al-Baghdadi.
The Pentagon said it had “no reason to believe tape is not authentic”. NYT