IS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Rallies Fighters, Condemns US-Led Coalition in New Speech
The Islamic State (IS) released a new audio speech from its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in which he rallied his forces, condemned coalition intervention in Syria, and called for further recruitment of fighters.
The speech, entitled, "Even If the Disbelievers Despise Such," came in a 17-minute audio produced by the IS' al-Furqan Media Foundation, and distributed on Twitter with November 13, 2014, with accompanying Arabic, English, and Russian transcripts. In his message, Baghdadi addressed US plans to deploy 1,500 additional troops into Iraq, stating:
Here is Obama who has ordered the deployment of 1,500 additional soldiers under the claim that they are advisors because the Crusaders' airstrikes and constant bombardment – day and night – upon the position of the Islamic State have not prevented its advance, nor weakened its resolve. And the agents of the Jews and Crusaders, their slaves, talks, and dogs, could not hold out in the face of the Islamic State, and they will never hold out against it. And indeed the Crusaders will be defeated.
The speech comes only days after reports alleging that Baghdadi had been injured by coalition airstrikes near Mosul. Since then, IS has not officially confirmed or denied the report.
"It is important to note that Baghdadi cited current events such as the deployment of US troops into Iraq and the pledges of new groups and fighters, as released by the Islamic State three days ago," says SITE Director Rita Katz. "This indicates that he is still alive."
The leader also called for further recruitment and action by radicals, stating that fighters should "erupt volcanoes of jihad everywhere," and stating to Muslims around the globe:
There is no good in you if you incline towards the Dunya and desert or turn back. No, rather you were made for good and good was made for you. You are the fuel and support of every jihad battleground, and from amongst its leaders.
Baghdadi also cited the pledges from fighters in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen, including Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (Ansar Jerusalem), which came between November 9-10, and accepted them. He declared:
We announce the acceptance of the bay'ah of those who gave us bay'ah in those lands, the nullification of the groups therein, the announcement of new wilayat for the Islamic State, and the appointment of wulat for them. We also announce the acceptance of bay'at given by the groups and individuals in all of those mentioned wilayat and others. We ask every individual amongst them to join the closest wilayah to him, and to hear and obey the wall appointed by us for it.
The release by IS marks the first official speech by Bagdadi since he delivered a sermon in Mosul a week after the group's announcement of the Caliphate on June 29, 2014.
