Reuters
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was rumored to have been killed by a U.S. airstrike last week—but, according to a recording released Thursday, the leader of the self-described Islamic State is still very much alive. The 17-minute recording, released by al-Furqan media, purports to be Baghdadi’s call for attacks in Saudi Arabia and “volcanoes of jihad” across the world. Baghdadi claimed that the U.S. military campaign against ISIS is failing. “America and its allies are terrified, weak, and powerless,” he said. It is unclear when the recording was made, but it referenced President Obama’s recent decision to send an additional 1,500 military advisers to train the Iraqi army. It also references a pledge of allegiance by Egyptian jihadis to ISIS last weekend.