He released a speech about the end of the ISIS caliphate as he sat beside 3 other ISIS members. He praised the attack in Sri Lanka. He has not been seen in an estimated 5 years. He urged his members to persevere and continue fighting everywhere. The authenticity of the video remains unclear, which is the same for his whereabouts.
Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was pictured in a new video for the first time since July 2014, SITE Intelligence Group said Monday.
The video was released by ISIS’s propaganda arm al-Furqan.
1) BREAKING: #ISIS’ Furqan issues new video showing leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, marking the first time he is shown in a video since his July 2014 sermon at the Great Mosque in #Mosul pic.twitter.com/cDgOmx7Mhn
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) April 29, 2019
Rumors of al-Baghdadi’s death have persisted as ISIS militants who have surrendered to U.S.-backed coalition forces, believed their ideological leader abandoned their cause.
1) BREAKING: #ISIS’ Furqan issues new video showing leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, marking the first time he is shown in a video since his July 2014 sermon at the Great Mosque in #Mosul pic.twitter.com/cDgOmx7Mhn
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) April 29, 2019
Baghdadi also suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure and injuries sustained during an airstrike years ago.
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The United States is offering up to $25 million for any credible information that leads to his capture.