The Islamic State group has declared a new leader in an audio recording that also confirms the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi days earlier in a US raid in Syria.
Baghdadi, an Iraqi jihadist who rose from obscurity to declare himself “caliph” of the Islamic State in July 2014, died by detonating a suicide vest as he fled into a dead-end tunnel during a US special forces raid in Syria on Sunday.
In an audio release via the Telegram account of IS central media arm al-Furqan Foundation, a new spokesman identifies Baghdadi’s successor and the terror groups new “caliph” as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi.
“The Shura Council of the Islamic State convened immediately, once they were sure of the martyrdom of Sheikh Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi,” the new spokesman announced.
The recording also confirmed the death of the group’s former spokesperson Abu al-Hassan al-Muhajir, who US officials said was killed in a separate airstrike that closely followed the raid in which Baghdadi was killed.
In a tweet, Monday, US President Donald Trump referred to Muhajir as “al-Baghdadi’s number one replacement” saying he would have “most likely” taken the top spot.
Just confirmed that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s number one replacement has been terminated by American troops. Most likely would have taken the top spot – Now he is also Dead!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2019
In the new audio message, the new IS spokesman described Trump as “a crazy old man” and warned the US that the group’s supporters would avenge Baghdadi’s death.
“Beware vengeance [against] their nation and their brethren of infidels and apostates,” the recording said.
General Kenneth McKenzie Jr, the commander of US Central Command said they are prepared for any possible revenge attack.
“We suspect they will try some form of retribution attack. And we are postured and prepared for that,” he said during a briefing at the Pentagon.
