ISIS leader rallies fighters in new audio message

Islamic State (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi called on followers to stand fast in the fight against “infidels” in an audio message released late Thursday. He also encouraged militants to stage more terror attacks. “You soldiers of Islam, supporters of the caliphate everywhere, step up your attacks and include the media centers of the infidels and the headquarters of their ideological war among your targets,” al-Baghdadi said in the 46-minute recording released through the ISIS al-Furqan media outlet. Al-Furqan did not say when al-Baghdadi recorded the message, but his reference to North Korea’s threats against the United States and Japan suggests he did it recently. ISIS last released a message purported to be from al-Baghdadi in November 2016. Russian officials said earlier this year they believed al-Baghdadi died in one of their airstrikes against the militant group, but U.S. officials cast doubt on that assessment from the beginning. The extremist group in July lost the northern Iraqi city of Mosul and suffered other setbacks in Syria, but al-Baghdadi urged the militants to persevere. “Beware of retreat, of the feeling of defeat, beware of negotiations or surrender,” he said. “Do not lay down your arms.”