Iraq: The Islamic State group have released a voice recording on Thursday of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, calling on jihadists under pressure in Syria and Iraq to “resist” their enemies.
According to a report in Dawn, the message is its first from Baghdadi, following reports of his possible death, in nearly a year.
In this alleged message, the elusive jihadist leader called on his supporters to target the “media centres” of countries fighting his group.
The United States said it was verifying the recording, but also that it had “no reason to doubt” its authenticity, Dawn reported.
“The leaders of the Islamic State and its soldiers have realised that the path to […] victory is to be patient and resist the infidels whatever their alliances,” Baghdadi allegedly said in the recording.
It was not clear when the message, released by the IS-affiliated Al-Furqan media group, was recorded, the report added.
In it, Baghdadi lashed out at “infidel nations headed by America, Russia and Iran” who, along with their allies, have inflicted losses on the jihadists during separate offensives against IS in Syria and Iraq.
“We will remain, we will resist and be patient… We will not give in,” he said, a day after Iraqi forces defeated IS fighters who had seized areas in a surprise offensive around Ramadi west of Baghdad.
The apparent IS leader called on “soldiers of the caliphate” to pursue their “jihad”, or holy war, and attacks.
He urged his followers to “target the media centres of the infidels”, without providing further details, the Dawn report said.
