The Russians have been insisting for weeks that one of their airstrikes in Syria took out ISIS's "caliph" or chief, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (real name Ibrahim al-Badri, an Iraqi who'd spent some time in a U.S. military prison in Iraq after the 2003 invasion, before he was set loose and came to power in the vacuum left after the American withdrawal from Iraq).
Up until the other day, proof other than what Russia was offering was scant. However, just recently, the non-state terror group (yes, I know: they declared nation-state status in areas they'd occupied in Iraq and Syria) executed one of its preachers for accidentally speaking of al-Baghdadi's death.
And now, Iraqi News is saying that reports from the ISIS-occupied city of Tal Afar indicate the terror group made a brief announcement of the caliph's death, with a subsequent civil war breaking out among various factions within the organization, all of whom want to ensure they come out on top in the post-Baghdadi realignment.
"The Islamic State has declared its runaway supreme leader dead, announcing it was going to name a successor soon, a source in Nineveh province said, the latest episode in clashing, unconfirmed reports around the leader’s survival.
Alsumaria News quoted a local source Tuesday saying that IS made a brief statement in the town of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, in which it confirmed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s death without adding further details except stressing an imminent declaration of a successor and a call upon fighters to remain resilient.
Chaos flared in Tal Afar following the declaration, according to Alsumaria News’s sources. Infighting among Baghdadi’s loyalists and opponents broke out, prompting the group to carry out wide-scale arrests and to impose a curfew at most of the town."
A Syrian human-rights group tells Reuters that it has “confirmed information” of Baghdadi’s death:
"The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told Reuters on Tuesday that it had “confirmed information” that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed. …
Baghdadi’s death had been announced many times before but the Observatory has a track record of credible reporting on Syria’s civil war.
Abdulrahman said Observatory sources in Syria’s eastern town of Deir al-Zor had been told by Islamic State sources that Baghdadi had died “but they did not specify when”."
It could just be that al-Baghdadi didn't suffer a case of terminal missile poisoning, though. Given the nature of the power struggle going on in ISIS as it began suffering setback after setback in its battles against Russian, U.S. and Iraqi forces, at various locations within its so-called caliphate, it's also possible his own inner circle killed him as part of a power play. Given such a story wouldn't play well with potential recruits, don't expect ISIS to broadcast that one very loudly, if true.
"Politics is just show business for ugly people."
Up until the other day, proof other than what Russia was offering was scant. However, just recently, the non-state terror group (yes, I know: they declared nation-state status in areas they'd occupied in Iraq and Syria) executed one of its preachers for accidentally speaking of al-Baghdadi's death.
And now, Iraqi News is saying that reports from the ISIS-occupied city of Tal Afar indicate the terror group made a brief announcement of the caliph's death, with a subsequent civil war breaking out among various factions within the organization, all of whom want to ensure they come out on top in the post-Baghdadi realignment.
"The Islamic State has declared its runaway supreme leader dead, announcing it was going to name a successor soon, a source in Nineveh province said, the latest episode in clashing, unconfirmed reports around the leader’s survival.
Alsumaria News quoted a local source Tuesday saying that IS made a brief statement in the town of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, in which it confirmed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s death without adding further details except stressing an imminent declaration of a successor and a call upon fighters to remain resilient.
Chaos flared in Tal Afar following the declaration, according to Alsumaria News’s sources. Infighting among Baghdadi’s loyalists and opponents broke out, prompting the group to carry out wide-scale arrests and to impose a curfew at most of the town."
A Syrian human-rights group tells Reuters that it has “confirmed information” of Baghdadi’s death:
"The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told Reuters on Tuesday that it had “confirmed information” that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed. …
Baghdadi’s death had been announced many times before but the Observatory has a track record of credible reporting on Syria’s civil war.
Abdulrahman said Observatory sources in Syria’s eastern town of Deir al-Zor had been told by Islamic State sources that Baghdadi had died “but they did not specify when”."
It could just be that al-Baghdadi didn't suffer a case of terminal missile poisoning, though. Given the nature of the power struggle going on in ISIS as it began suffering setback after setback in its battles against Russian, U.S. and Iraqi forces, at various locations within its so-called caliphate, it's also possible his own inner circle killed him as part of a power play. Given such a story wouldn't play well with potential recruits, don't expect ISIS to broadcast that one very loudly, if true.
"Politics is just show business for ugly people."
Last edited by:
big kahuna: Jul 11, 17 6:33
