Islamic State (IS) has released a video which it claims features its leader who hasn't been seen in years.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the terrorist group which has seen massive territorial loss over the last few months, hasn't been seen in five years.
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But a new video message released by IS features a man that the group say is al-Baghdadi.
The 18-minute video, released by an IS media group and distributed by the SITE Intelligence Group, shows the man sitting on the ground and speaking to a group of followers.
While he acknowledges the loss of territory in Iraq and Syria, the Guardian reports he doesn't believe the group's fight with Christianity and the West is finished.
"The battle of Baghouz is over. But it did show the savagery, brutality and ill intentions of the Christians towards the Muslim community," the man says.
Baghouz refers to a town in eastern Syria lost by the terror group in March.
It comes after IS claimed responsibility for the Sri Lankan Easter Sunday bombings which killed over 250 people. No evidence has been provided to suggest IS was involved, but al-Baghdadi praised the attackers.
While the man hasn't been seen in five years, multiple audio messages have been released which IS claim feature al-Baghdadi.
The authenticity of the video has yet to be independently verified.
Newshub.
