Isis leader Al-Baghdadi appears in video for first time in five years

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

The fugitive Islamic State leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has appeared in a propaganda video for the first time in five years, in which he recognises the terror group’s defeat in the Syrian town of Baghouz.

The appearance is only Baghdadi’s second on video, and comes weeks after the remnants of Isis were ousted from their last organised stronghold in the eastern Syrian desert. Older, and looking heavier than when he proclaimed the existence of the now collapsed caliphate in mid-2014, Baghdadi blamed its demise on the “savagery” of Christians.

Sitting cross-legged alongside a Kalashnikov rifle, he speaks for no more than 40 seconds. “Truthfully, the battle of Islam and its people against the cross and its people is a long battle,” he says. “The battle of Baghouz is over. But it did show the savagery, brutality and ill intentions of the Christians towards the Muslim community.”

The appearance seemed designed to acknowledge the loss of the remaining pockets of Isis land and to demonstrate that Baghdadi was still alive. He had released several audio sermons in recent years, the last of which was in August last year, but his long absence from public view had fuelled speculation that Baghdadi remained impaired from wounds, or may have been killed.

-snip-

Martin Chulov in Beirut and Dan Sabbagh in London
Mon 29 Apr 2019 18.09 BST Last modified on Mon 29 Apr 2019 18.14 BST


Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/29/isis-leader-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-appears-in-video-for-first-time-in-five-years

[Eugene]

1. Islamic State leader: Sri Lanka attack was revenge for Syria

Source: Associated Press

Islamic State leader: Sri Lanka attack was revenge for Syria

By JON GAMBRELL and KRISHAN FRANCIS
April 29, 2019

BATTICALOA, Sri Lanka (AP) — The leader of the Islamic State group praised the Easter suicide bombings that killed more than 250 people in Sri Lanka in a video released Monday, calling on militants to be a “thorn” against their enemies in his first filmed appearance in nearly five years.

The video of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, to whom the suicide bombers in last week’s attack apparently pledged their loyalty, came as the top official in the Catholic Church urged Sri Lanka to crack down on Islamic extremists “as if on war footing.”

Meanwhile, a government ban on niqab face covering took effect as soldiers and police officers conducted raids in eastern Sri Lanka, the home of the alleged mastermind of the attacks.

The 18-minute video of al-Baghdadi included images of the extremist leader sitting in a white room with three others, assault rifles by their sides. He discussed Sri Lanka in an audio portion of the video, suggesting the April 21 attacks came after they filmed him.

Al-Baghdadi praised the attackers, saying they conducted the bombings as revenge for the fall of Baghouz, Syria, the last territory the extremist group held there or in Iraq.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/54b095fc0e894790845f8b96292e0ab6

[Maxheader]

2. The leaders of the fundy islamic terrorists

may be coordinating with the nationalist fucks in this country...the kkk, the skinheads...probably cheetox.

Because they have so much in common..

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. But Trumpy said he defeated ISIS

[Blue_Tires]

4. That moment when the leader of ISIS crafts a more coherent public message than Trump

Wow... Complete sentences and everything!