Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) mocking the Western coalition aligned against him, threatening Israel and trying to boost his own forces’ morale.
“Soldiers of the Islamic State be patient because you are on the right path,” says the man, who is identified on ISIS-affiliated social media accounts as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. “Be patient, because God is with you.”
He isn’t often heard from or seen, the last such example coming last May in a reported online audio statement — a reclusiveness that could be traced to the fact he’s a wanted man for leading fighters in carrying out atrocities and taking over swaths of Syria and Iraq, not to mention inspiring or pulling off attacks elsewhere in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Regardless, those who posted the audio message that appeared Saturday appeared to believe it came from Baghdadi. And it has a marker consistent with other ISIS media and was produced by the group’s al-Furqan Media wing.
It’s not clear when the 24-minute tape was recorded, as it makes no reference to recent ISIS-related operations such as the terror attacks in Paris or the downing of a Russian commercial jet out of Egypt.
The speech appears to focus mostly on ISIS fighters, trying to boost their spirits in the face of ongoing fighting, according to analysts.
