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| Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: 'New audio' of IS leader released | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The Islamic State group (IS) has released an audio message purporting to come from its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. | The Islamic State group (IS) has released an audio message purporting to come from its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. |
| In the message, the first since September last year, the voice addresses IS supporters. | In the message, the first since September last year, the voice addresses IS supporters. |
| Although the audio is undated, it appears to refer to recent events, including the detention of a US pastor in Turkey. | Although the audio is undated, it appears to refer to recent events, including the detention of a US pastor in Turkey. |
| IS has lost most of the territory it once held across Syria and Iraq. | IS has lost most of the territory it once held across Syria and Iraq. |
| Last year it was forced out of its former strongholds of Raqqa and Mosul, from where Baghdadi announced the establishment of the group's "caliphate" in 2014. | Last year it was forced out of its former strongholds of Raqqa and Mosul, from where Baghdadi announced the establishment of the group's "caliphate" in 2014. |
| "For the Mujahideen [holy warriors] the scale of victory or defeat is not dependant on a city or town being stolen or subject to that who has aerial superiority, intercontinental missiles or smart bombs," Reuters quoted the new audio statement as saying. | "For the Mujahideen [holy warriors] the scale of victory or defeat is not dependant on a city or town being stolen or subject to that who has aerial superiority, intercontinental missiles or smart bombs," Reuters quoted the new audio statement as saying. |
| Baghdadi, who has a $25m (£19m) US bounty on his head, has been reported killed or wounded on a number of occasions. | Baghdadi, who has a $25m (£19m) US bounty on his head, has been reported killed or wounded on a number of occasions. |
| Earlier this year, his son was said to have been killed in a "commando operation" in the Syrian province of Homs, according to IS media. | Earlier this year, his son was said to have been killed in a "commando operation" in the Syrian province of Homs, according to IS media. |
| Meanwhile, a UN report earlier this month warned that between 20,000 and 30,000 IS militants remain in the two countries. | Meanwhile, a UN report earlier this month warned that between 20,000 and 30,000 IS militants remain in the two countries. |