Audio Message Attributed to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Released Following Mosul Operations

In an audio message attributed to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), he urged the people of Nineveh province in Iraq and the group's forces in Mosul to resist against the attacks of Iraqi forces and the international coalition and not to retreat. According to Reuters, in this 30-minute audio file released early Thursday by supporters of the group on social media, al-Baghdadi began by addressing his forces, stating: "This total war and great jihad that the 'Islamic State' is currently engaged in strengthens our firm belief, and God willing, this is a prelude to victory." He also said: "This is what God and His Messenger have promised us." The leader of the Islamic State referred to the liberation operations in Mosul as a crusade against Muslims. Reports from some international media indicate that if the authenticity of this audio message attributed to al-Baghdadi is confirmed, it likely was recorded within the last ten days. In the continuation of this audio message, the leader of the Islamic State called on his supporters to carry out operations against the governments of Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Iraqi army forces, along with the Peshmerga of the Kurdistan region and Iraqi Shiite militias, began operations to liberate Mosul 15 days ago. Reports indicate that Iraqi army forces entered parts of the city of Mosul on Wednesday. Mosul is the second-largest city in Iraq, which has been under the control of the Islamic State since 2014. In this audio file, the leader of the Islamic State explicitly instructed his forces: "Fight for the sake of God and stand firm against the American fighters and their allies." He urged his followers to shed the blood of those he called "invaders," causing "rivers of blood" to flow. Concurrently with the beginning of the Mosul liberation operations, a Norwegian aid group warned that the lives of over one million citizens trapped in Mosul under the control of the Islamic State are in serious danger amidst the fighting. According to this aid group active in Iraq, nearly 18,000 people have managed to flee Mosul over the past two weeks since the start of the Ninawa operation. In this context, calls for uprising in Saudi Arabia and attacks on Israel were included in the 'audio message from the leader of ISIS.' The United States and Iraq did not confirm the injury of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.