ISIS names new chief after confirming the death of al-Baghdadi

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) armed group has confirmed the death for their leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Abu Ibrahim al-Hashmi al-Qurayshi is named as the new chief of the organization.

The new spokesman made this announcement through an audio declaration distributed by the group’s media.

48-year-old Iraq born Al-Baghdadi was killed by US security forces on October 26, 2019. The death announcement was made by US President Donald Trump on Sunday after the night-time raid by US special forces in a village named Barisha situated in the northwest province of Syria’s Idlib.

The announcement carrying the information of the new chief’s name did not provide any other details about the new leader and it was not clear about whom the name was referring to. Armed groups usually identify its leaders using their tribal affiliation and lineage which often changes.

The new leader's title indicates that he claims descent from the tribe of Prophet Muhammed.

The audio statement also confirmed the demise of Abu al-Hassan al-Muhajir, the group’s spokesman and a close aide to al-Baghdadi who was killed in a joint US operation with Kurdish forces in the northern Syrian city of Jarablus hours after the death of their leader.