The group known as the "Islamic State" or ISIS has finally released an audio file attributed to its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, after about a year. Reuters reported on Thursday, September 28, that this 46-minute audio file does not specify exactly when it was recorded, but al-Baghdadi mentions North Korea's threats against Japan and the United States in his remarks. At the same time, a significant portion of this speech is dedicated to citing Quranic verses and religious narratives. The last speech by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi that was released dates back to November of last year, two weeks after the start of the operation to liberate Mosul, where he urged his followers to fight the "infidels" and "spill their blood like rivers on the ground." Since then, the city of Mosul, which was under ISIS control for three years and considered the center of this group in Iraq, has been liberated by Iraqi forces with the support of the United States. Meanwhile, various speculations have arisen regarding the fate of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as initially, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that he was likely killed in one of the Russian airstrikes in the Raqqa area of Syria, but Washington stated it could not confirm al-Baghdadi's death. Iraqi officials also expressed doubts about this matter. Iraqi and American officials have said they believe capturing or killing Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi could take several years and suspect that he may be hiding in the deserts between Mosul and Raqqa.
ISIS Released an Audio File Attributed to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
ISIS has released a new audio file attributed to its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, after a year of speculation about his fate. The audio includes references to global threats and religious texts, but its exact recording date is unknown. This release comes amid ongoing discussions about al-Baghdadi's potential hiding and the implications for ISIS's future.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
ISIS released a new audio file attributed to its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, after a year of speculation about his fate. The audio discusses global threats and includes religious references, but the recording date is unclear.
- The audio file is 46 minutes long and mentions threats from North Korea.
- Al-Baghdadi's last speech was in November of the previous year, shortly after the liberation of Mosul.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
ISIS, once controlling significant territory in Iraq and Syria, has faced military defeats but continues to influence global jihadist movements. Al-Baghdadi's leadership is pivotal for the group's ideological direction.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%