IS terrorist leader is alive but seriously injured

IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a rare appearance announcing the creation of the Islamic State. Photo: Reuters

"We have reliable information and documents from within the Islamic State terrorist organization (IS) that (Abu Bakr) al-Baghdadi is still alive and hiding in (the) Jazira region."

The Iraqi government's As Sabah newspaper quoted Mr. Abu Ali al-Basri, in charge of the Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism Department (under the Iraqi Ministry of Interior), as confirming the above on February 12 (local time).

He added that IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was injured in an airstrike on the IS base in Iraq. He was injured in many places, had diabetes, and had broken bones in his body and legs, so he needed help to walk.

Jazira is a desert plain in northeastern Syria bordering Iraq. Currently, IS still occupies this area.

Last week, the Iraqi government released a list of internationally wanted terrorist leaders. Topping the list is Ibrahim Awad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri al-Samarrai (al Baghdadi's real name), born in 1971.

On June 16, 2017, Russia announced that it had killed al Baghdadi in an airstrike late last month near Raqqa, Syria. Russia later said it was continuing to verify the information.

On September 1, 2017, a US Department of Defense official confirmed that al Baghdadi was definitely alive and hiding in the Euphrates Valley in eastern Syria.

By the end of September, IS forces released an audiotape of al Baghdadi encouraging IS members. There has been no news of al Baghdadi since.

Meanwhile, at a meeting of the US-led anti-terrorism coalition held on February 13 in Kuwait, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson carefully stated that although the main anti-IS campaigns are considered to be over, it does not mean that the US and its allies have completely defeated this terrorist organization.

Mr. Tillerson emphasized that IS still poses a significant threat to the United States and other parts of the world. According to him, IS has lost all the territory it had captured in Iraq and has been defeated in Syria, but the organization is seeking to gain territory in other countries.

In Iraq and Syria, IS is seeking to resurrect itself. In places like Afghanistan, the Philippines, Libya, West Africa and elsewhere, IS is seeking to seize territory and gain safe havens."

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson

Mr. Tillerson also expressed concern about recent developments in northwestern Syria, where Türkiye launched an offensive in January against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces that Ankara sees as a threat to its southern border.

However, the US Secretary of State also expressed sympathy for Türkiye's legitimate security concerns.

Also at this meeting, Mr. Tillerson said the US has decided to provide an additional 200 million USD in aid to "stabilize liberated areas" in Syria.