The Islamic State organization confirmed Thursday, October 31, the death of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, killed in an American raid in northwestern Syria, on the night of October 26-27. The spokesman of the group also announced the appointment of his successor, Abu Ibrahim Al-Hachimi Al-Qourachi.
"O Muslims, O moujahidines, soldiers of the IS (...), we mourn the commander of the believers Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi," said the jihadist organization in an audio message posted on the Telegram application.
This announcement comes four days after the one made by Donald Trump from the White House. The US president then said that Baghdadi had taken refuge in a tunnel during the assault of US special forces and blew himself up.
"He unleashed his jacket (explosives), killing himself and three of his children," the US president said. "He died like a dog, he died like a coward, today the world is safer," he said.
Considered responsible for multiple atrocities and atrocities in Iraq and Syria, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the most wanted man in the world, has been repeatedly reported dead in recent years.
His successor will have to lead the jihadist group's clandestine cells, which have never stopped their activities, according to experts, since the fall of the "caliphate" last March.