Audio released of IS leader, amid rumours of his death

Islamic State (Is) has released a new recording of their leader calling for “volcanoes of jihad” in an attempt to counter speculation that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a US-led air strike in Iraq last week.

The 17-minute speech, released by Is’s media wing al-Furqan, sees al-Baghdadi describe the US and its allies as “terrified, weak, and powerless”. He says that Is fighters will “never abandon fighting” and adds “they will be triumphant, even if only one man is left.” The speech, delivered in Arabic, has been translated into English.

Channel 4 News has not been able to independently verify the recording though it is widely thought to be authentic.

‘Oh soldiers of the Islamic State… erupt volcanoes of jihad’

It comes after rampant speculation following a US-led arial attack on a convoy in Mosul, Iraq last Friday. The operation which destroyed an Isis convoy near the Iraqi city of Mosul prompted speculation that the elusive leader had been “critically injured” – or even killed.

In the recording al-Baghdadi says: “Oh soldiers of the Islamic State…erupt volcanoes of jihad everywhere. Light the earth with fire against all dictators.” Referring to US-led military action against his group, he said: “Despite this Crusade campaign being the most fierce and severe of all, it is the greatest failure.”

The speech Baghdadi is particularly desparaging of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states that have joined the US-led coalition describing them as “traitors”. While last Friday’s airstrikes are not specifically mentioned, the speech does reference Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, the Egypt-based militant organisation, that pledged its allegiance to Is earlier this week. Al-Baghdadi adds: “we see America and its allies stumbling in fear, weakness, impotence and failure.”

The recording has compound speculation over the Is leader who was seen for the first time on video earlier this year:

Defiance

“God has ordered us to fight. For that reason the soldiers of the Islamic State are fighting,” al-Baghdadi says in the recording. “They will never leave fighting, even if only one soldier remains. They will never leave fighting, because they reject humiliation.”

The death of the elusive Baghdadi, whose group is now the richest and best equipped terrorist organisation in the world, would be a coup for the US-led coalition, which has faced accusations that the coalition’s air strikes against Is are having little effect.

Washington has offered a $10m (£6.3m) reward for his capture.