Islamic State Group Announces New Leader Confirming al-Baghdadi’s Death

Guwahati, November 1, 2019:

The Islamic State group on Thursday declared its new leader after confirming the death of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi during a raid led by the United States in Syria.

The IS central media arm, al-Furqan Foundation, in an audio clip released on Thursday announced that Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi will be the new leader. The clip also introduced the successor tracing his lineage, like al-Baghdadi, to the Prophet Muhammad's Quraysh tribe.

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No other details were provided about al-Qurayshi. It may be mentioned here that the group typically identifies its leaders using noms de Guerre that refer to their tribal affiliation and lineage which are often changed.

Al-Muhajir was killed in a joint US operation with Kurdish forces in Jarablus in northern Syria on Sunday. The spokesman, in the audio clip, urged followers to pledge allegiance to the new Caliph and addressed the Americans, saying: ‘Don't rejoice’.

The new Caliph is identified as a scholar, a well-known warrior and "emir of war" who has battled American forces and knows "its wars."

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The speaker further added, “So don't rejoice America for the death of Sheik al-Baghdadi. Don't you know America that the state (IS) today is at the doorstep of Europe and is in Central Africa? It is also expanding and remaining from east to west.”

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