ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi believed by the U.S. Government to still be overseeing terrorist group's operations
A recent intel from the United States reveals that Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is alive and is still in charge of the group's operations.
The Pentagon shared some vital information regarding the ongoing crisis in some parts of the Middle East brought about by a lot of complications including a hostile takeover by the rebel squad. Baghdadi, who has always chosen to run the show from the shadows, has been last seen in Mosul just after his group scored a win in the city. Since then, he has become more vocal in pioneering their campaign, releasing some audio messages pushing fighters to carry on with the battle. More recently, he once again delivered a message asking his members to defend Mosul at the height of their turf being attacked by the Iraqi Army.
Since Baghdadi's announcements are mostly on tape with no sightings of him in recent days, information officers are still trying to pin down his whereabouts. However, up until now, it is still uncertain whether he is in Mosul or some other remote base camp where he is safely in hiding.
"We do think Baghdadi is alive and is still leading ISIL and we are obviously doing everything we can to track his movements. If we get the opportunity, we certainly would take advantage of any opportunity to deliver him the justice he deserves ... We're doing everything we can. This is something we're spending a lot of time on," Peter Cook, Pentagon Press Secretary, told by CNN, which was then picked up by other media outlets.
Baghdadi's part in the continued onslaught by ISIS is being taken seriously by the United States Government, even doubling on his bounty earlier this year. Initially, the agency was willing to start with a $10-million base price to pin the sleek militant but the price has gradually grown over the years as he rose from the ranks in the group.
The reward, which now amounts to a whopping $25 million puts the leader on par with al-Qaeda Ayman al-Zawahiri with them having the same monetary value for their capture.
"Under al-Baghdadi, ISIL has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in the Middle East, including the brutal murder of numerous civilian hostages from Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States," the State Department explained of the leader's pivotal role in the notorious terror group.
