After the statement issued by US President Donald Trump about the raid and subsequent death of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the jihadist group has now confirmed the death of its leader in a statement. They have also named their new leader and his replacement, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi.
In an audio statement, the jihadist group’s new spokesman, Abu Hamza al-Quraishi said, “we mourn you… commander of the faithful.”
Baghdadi, who led IS since 2014 and was the world’s most wanted man, and was killed in a US special forces raid in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib on Sunday. In another raid, after this, the groups previous spokesman Abu Hassan al-Muhajir, was also killed.
US released a video of the raid that killed ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
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Meanwhile, right after the raids, the jihadist group’s legislative and consultative body convened and mourned the death of their 48-year-old leader. “The Islamic State shura council convened immediately after confirming the martyrdom of Sheikh Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and the elders of the holy warriors agreed” on a replacement, said the seven-minute message.
Hashimi is a lesser known figure. However, he is known to be a leading judge of IS and heads the Sharia (Islamic law) committee.
The IS spokesman also issued a stark warning to the United States, whose President Donald Trump announced Baghdadi’s death in a televised address from the White House.
President Trump had said that “he died after running into a dead-end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way and died like a dog”.
But in the 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.
“Do not rejoice America,” he warned, “the new chosen one will make you forget the horror you have beholden… and make the achievements of the Baghdadi days taste sweet”.