ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may have reappeared in new video
- 5 years ago
The Islamic State group has released a video purported to be of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who has not been seen since 2014.
For more on this and other news around the world, let's turn to Hong Yoo.
So Hong Yoo, tell us about this video.
A video was released by the extremist group's media wing al-Furqan on Monday and in it, a man said to be Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi acknowledged defeat in the group's last stronghold in Syria but vowed a "long battle" ahead.
Baghdadi also claimed the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka which killed over 250 people.
"Your brothers in Sri Lanka have pleased the hearts of Muslims with their attacks that shook the Crusaders on their Easter Day in revenge to your brothers in Baghouz. The number of the Crusaders victims reached more than 1,000 between dead and wounded. This is part of the revenge that awaits the Crusaders and their followers and we thank God that there were Americans and Europeans among the dead."
Baghdadi is seen with a bushy grey and red beard wearing a casual outfit, a black robe with a beige vest, and is sitting on the ground next to an assault rifle.
He's speaking with three men seated across from him whose faces were covered and blotted out.
This is the first time that Baghdadi has been seen since July 2014, when he spoke at the Great Mosque in Mosul.
Since then, ISIS has only released various audio messages of him.
The video appears to be aimed at boosting the morale as Baghdadi bragged his group carried out 92 attacks in eight countries to avenge the loss of territory in Syria.
It is unclear when or where Monday's video of the ISIS leader was filmed.
Despite numerous claims about his death in the past few years, Baghdadi's whereabouts remain a mystery.
For more on this and other news around the world, let's turn to Hong Yoo.
So Hong Yoo, tell us about this video.
A video was released by the extremist group's media wing al-Furqan on Monday and in it, a man said to be Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi acknowledged defeat in the group's last stronghold in Syria but vowed a "long battle" ahead.
Baghdadi also claimed the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka which killed over 250 people.
"Your brothers in Sri Lanka have pleased the hearts of Muslims with their attacks that shook the Crusaders on their Easter Day in revenge to your brothers in Baghouz. The number of the Crusaders victims reached more than 1,000 between dead and wounded. This is part of the revenge that awaits the Crusaders and their followers and we thank God that there were Americans and Europeans among the dead."
Baghdadi is seen with a bushy grey and red beard wearing a casual outfit, a black robe with a beige vest, and is sitting on the ground next to an assault rifle.
He's speaking with three men seated across from him whose faces were covered and blotted out.
This is the first time that Baghdadi has been seen since July 2014, when he spoke at the Great Mosque in Mosul.
Since then, ISIS has only released various audio messages of him.
The video appears to be aimed at boosting the morale as Baghdadi bragged his group carried out 92 attacks in eight countries to avenge the loss of territory in Syria.
It is unclear when or where Monday's video of the ISIS leader was filmed.
Despite numerous claims about his death in the past few years, Baghdadi's whereabouts remain a mystery.