Posted on 05/08/2017 10:35:00 AM PDT by Texas Fossil
ISIS Leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi Spotted in Iraq’s Mosul
So-called Islamic State (IS) leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has called on his followers to “head towards” the group’s stronghold in Syria, Raqqa, as the city comes under continued pressure from US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a war monitor has said.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Monday that jihadists have confiscated boats used by civilians between the north and south banks of the Euphrates River and prevented tens of families from crossing into areas controlled by the SDF.
According to SOHR, militants have also fortified positions in the north of Raqqa, ahead of an expected onslaught into the centre of the city by Kurdish-Arab-led SDF.
The preparations come in conjunction with sermons read in mosques in Raqqa and Deir Ezzor to “motivate Muslims and incite them to fight,” several local sources confirmed to SOHR.
Based on a book attributed to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the sermons included, “incitement for Muslims living in the territories of the Islamic Caliphate to alert and head towards al-Raqqa to repel the attack of atheist Kurds, the Crusader Coalition and agents of the Cross on it,” SOHR reported.
According to US sources, President Donald Trump is expected to inform Turkey, which has blocked the final assault on Raqqa, that the US-led International Coalition will go ahead with the operation with Kurdish-led forces.
Ankara has tried to push for Turkish-backed rebel groups to lead the capture of Raqqa, arguing that the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the main force in the SDF, is affiliated to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), therefore a “terrorist group”.
This will get interesting as ISIS dies.
I’m waiting for them to bagh al-Baghdadi. he has an appointment with Satan.
Syria Ping
“..... or my a$$ is grass!”
Yeah, the CIA has been slow to cut the head off of the ISIS snake.....
No surprise here?
IOW, his ass needs SAVING!...........inshallah........
Why doesn’t he just call upon Allah to save his butt?...........
Yeah? This sounds like a good time for President Trump to call on some MOAB's to head towards Raqqa.
The signal of the end-game in Syria. Mosul will fall soon and the all out assault on Raqqa can commence. I wonder if al Baghdadi is a true believer or not. Will he go down with the ship or will he escape to Libya or Yemen? It would be almost as huge to kill/capture (hopefully kill) him as it was to get Bin Laden.
Another question, if he fled to Libya or Yemen how would he be perceived by ISIS acolytes? Would he be seen as a coward or continuing the fight?
He added "I'll be along shortly."
How many articles in the past did I read telling me that Al Baghdadi is either dead or fatally wounded?
Al, the Big Bad Daddy.
What does Hussein abu 0dontCare al Chiraqi say?
I hope I never hear his voice again.
A bunch. Last one was about 6 months ago, they were saying he was making his way to Al-Bab or Raqqa, Syria.
Shortly? smile. It would be nice if he did, they can take care of him at same time as the rest. Their numbers are down considerably.
But they are still using human shields to prevent just being wiped out instantly.
I suspect the will get the weasel this time. Either in Iraq or in Syria.
Now, Iran might take him in. They might also kill him.
It worked in Iraq. But circumstances were different. In urban environment there are a lot more civilians exposed.
Saw a figure of 100,000 civilians still in Raqqa. Have no idea who made the estimate. But ISIS does kill them trying to escape.
Anything on the Tabqa Dam, about 30 klicks over from Raqqa?
The city of Tabqa claims to be freed, the nearby dam?
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