The shadowy leader of the Islamic State group appeared for the first time in five years in a video released by the extremist group's propaganda arm on Monday, acknowledging defeat in the group's last stronghold in Syria but vowing a "long battle" ahead. The SITE Intelligence group said Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in the video, also discussed the Easter Day bombings in Sri Lanka which killed over 250 people and for which the group claimed responsibility. It is his first video appearance since he delivered a sermon at the al-Nuri mosque in the Iraqi city of Mosul in 2014. "In fact, the battle of Islam and its people against the Crusaders and their followers is a long battle," he said. Al-Baghdadi spoke slowly and haltingly in the video.

Source: The Telegraph April 29, 2019 17:26 UTC