The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has released an audio message amid rumours that he was injured or killed following a US airstrike.
He called on his supporters through the 17-minute audio recording to “erupt volcanoes of Jihad”. “O soldiers of the Islamic State, continue to harvest the soldiers,” the recording said.
Baghdadi made no direct reference to the alleged strike against Isis leadership but called on his supporters to “Erupt volcanoes of jihad everywhere. Light the Earth with fire.”
He said the caliphate was expanding across the Arab world and challenged the US-led military campaign against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
According to Flashpoint Intelligence, a global security firm and NBC News counterterrorism consultancy, the recording appeared authentic, and the man’s voice appeared to correspond with previous recordings released by the group.
