(FILES) This file image grab taken on July 5, 2014 from a propaganda video released by al-Furqan Media allegedly shows the leader of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, aka Caliph Ibrahim, adressing Muslim worshippers at a mosque in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, held at the time by IS. - Baghdadi was believed to be dead after a US military raid in Syria's Idlib region, US media reported early Sunday. Baghdadi may have killed himself with a suicide vest as US special operations forces attacked, media said citing multiple government sources. (Photo by - / AFP) / THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PHOTO IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY AFP.
The Islamic State jihadist group confirmed the death of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and named his replacement as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, said a statement released Thursday.
“We mourn you… commander of the faithful,” an audio statement read by Abu Hamza al-Quraishi, presented as the jihadist group’s spokesman, said.