ISIL chief threatens Turkey

ISTANBUL

This file image made from video posted on a militant website, July 5, 2014, purports to show the leader of the Islamic State group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, delivering a sermon at a mosque in Iraq during his first public appearance. AP Photo

The leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who is reportedly hiding out in the besieged city of Mosul, released his first message since 2015, urging followers to wage all-out war and take the fighting into Saudi Arabia and Turkey. 

In the recorded message, the ISIL leader expressed confidence that ISIL would “ultimately be victorious” in fending off the Iraqi forces and allied militias trying to retake Mosul, where he declared the ‘caliphate’ two years ago.

“Turkey entered the zone of your operations, so attack it, destroy its security, and sow horror within it. Put it on your list of battlefields. Turkey entered the war with the Islamic State with cover and protection from Crusader jets,” he said referring to the U.S.-led air coalition.

“Unleash the fire of your anger on Turkish troops in Syria,” he said in the vireo authenticity of which could not be verified.