IS confirms Baghdadi death, names new leader: statement

Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died after a US military raid in Syria's Idlib region on October 26, 2019. PHOTO | AL-FURQAN | AFP

The Islamic State jihadist group confirmed the death of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and named his replacement as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, said a statement released Thursday.

"We mourn you...commander of the faithful," an audio statement read by Abu Hamza al-Quraishi, presented as the jihadist group's spokesman, said.