Islamic State head releases new recording
In audio file, a man who purports to be jihadi leader says his group’s battle will continue ‘even if only one soldier remains’
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The Islamic State group on Thursday released an audio recording of what it claimed were comments by the organization’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, days after an airstrike on jihadist leaders in Iraq sparked rumors he had been wounded or killed.
In the 17-minute message, the man who purported to be al-Baghdadi made no direct reference to the alleged strike against IS leadership but mentioned developments that have occurred since.
In the statement, released Thursday on social media networks, the man said his group would “never leave fighting, even if only one soldier remains.”
The man added that the US-led airstrike campaign against IS in Iraq and Syria had “mostly failed.” He further contended that Israel “was a secret partner” in the coalition established in order to combat the jihadi group.
“The agents of the Jews, the Crusaders, their slaves, their dogs and their tails on the ground did not hold against the Islamic State, and [their gains] are not going to last,” he said, according to Ynet.
“The Muslims are winning, the advances of the jihadist fighters will continue until they reach Rome, with Allah’s help.”
The purported extremist leader went on to urge Muslims to bring about an “eruption of jihad everywhere,” and maintained that his group’s influence had spread across the Middle East, from Saudi Arabi and Yemen, to Egypt, Libya and Algeria.
The recording appeared authentic, and the man’s voice appeared to correspond with previous recordings of al-Baghdadi released by the group.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.