The Islamic State has confirmed that its leader, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, died during a U.S. special operations forces raid and has named his successor.
The terrorist group confirmed Baghdadi’s death in an audio recording released through its media arm, Amaq, on Thursday. In the recording, ISIS named Abu Ibrahim al Hashimi al Qurayshi as its new leader.
The group also confirmed the death of its spokesman Abu Hassan al Muhajir, who was killed in an airstrike in a village in northern Syria controlled by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels.
Little is known about the new leader, although part of his name, al Qurayshi, appears to show that he claims lineage to the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. His background or further information about him was not discussed in the recording, and his name has not been among those publicly discussed as replacements for Baghdadi since the raid.
“America, don’t you realize that the Islamic State is now at the forefront of Europe and West Africa? It is extended from the East to the West,” the recording reportedly says. “Don’t you see that you have become a laughing stock to the world. Your destiny is controlled by an old fool who goes to sleep with one opinion and wakes up with another. Do not celebrate or get arrogant.”
Baghdadi was killed during a top-secret operation in the Idlib province of northwest Syria, where he detonated a suicide vest, killing himself and three children. President Trump announced his death on Sunday morning at the White House.
