Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of extremist group ISIS, called on his supporters to “erupt volcanoes of jihad” in an apparent new audio message released Thursday. The recording, which appeared to be genuine according to Flashpoint Intelligence, a global security firm and NBC News counterterrorism consultancy, came days after speculation that Baghdadi had been wounded in an airstrike in Iraq.
"O soldiers of the Islamic State, continue to harvest the soldiers," the recording said. "Erupt volcanoes of jihad everywhere. Light the Earth with fire." The extremist leader claimed the bombing campaign against ISIS in Syria and Iraq is failing, saying: “America and its allies are terrified, weak, and powerless.”
He also said ISIS fighters would not "never abandon fighting," adding: "They will be triumphant, even if only one man of them is left.”
The message, shared on jihadist web sites, appeared to have been recorded recently and included a reference to Egyptian militant group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, which pledged allegiance to Baghdadi on Monday.
Baghdadi called for attacks in Saudi Arabia, said his self-declared caliphate was expanding across the Arab world.
The United States has not confirmed that Baghdadi, who has led ISIS since 2010, was wounded in any airstrike, as claimed by Iraq's defense and interior ministries on Sunday.
IN-DEPTH
- Guerilla War: ISIS Boasts of Tunnels to Elude U.S. Bombs
- ISIS Allegiance: Who’s Pledging Support for the Terror Group
- ‘Symbols of Strength’: Women on Front Lines Against ISIS