The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria finds itself under growing pressure on several fronts, facing battlefield setbacks in both countries. In a new audio message Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed caliph of the Islamic State, has warned of difficult times ahead, saying "the whole world" is united against the Islamic State.
Al-Baghdadi's 24-minute message -- his first since May -- appears to have been recorded in the past two weeks. The ISIS leader talks of a "general war" in which the "caliphate" is up against the West, Russia and their Arab allies -- specifically Saudi Arabia. The recording was released Saturday by ISIS' Al-Furqan Media.
"Do not be amazed by the meeting of the nations of disbelief and groups against the Islamic State," says al Baghdadi. "If we are killed and the wounds are numerous and the problems amassed against us and the hardships are great, then it is no surprise either."
In his latest message, Baghdadi candidly recalls previous setbacks for the Islamic State's predecessors in Iraq, notably 10 years ago when the movement's founder Abu Musab al Zarqawi was killed and Sunni tribes turned against it. "The seditions and the hardships became greater, such that the Islamic State fell back from many of the areas it had taken and controlled," he says.
Even so, he tells supporters: "Be reassured, for your state is still good. Whenever the conspiring of the nations increases against it, the more certain (is) the support of Allah."
That "conspiring" against ISIS has grown since the bomb attack on the Russian Metrojet airliner and the terror attacks in Paris, with the Russian air campaign shifting to include ISIS targets and France stepping up airstrikes on Raqqa.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia this month announced a coalition of 34 nations against terrorism, which Baghdadi devotes some time to ridiculing in his speech. By talking about America's "proxies and henchmen," he suggests ISIS will try to increase attacks inside Saudi Arabia. He also makes an appeal for jihadists from Saudi Arabia to join the group.
Baghdadi sees the future of the conflict in apocalyptic terms, referring to "the fight of all the nations of disbelief against the Ummah of Islam," which he says is unprecedented. He calls on all Muslims to join jihad and mobilizes Islamic prophecy, speaking of the "final battle" in Dabiq -- a town in northern Syria where there will be an epic clash against the "armies of Rome."
In fact, he makes more than a call to jihad. He says it is obligatory, and as the "caliph" Baghdadi believes he has the religious authority to say that "waging this battle is a duty upon every Muslim and no one is excused."
At the same time he mocks ISIS' enemies for not sending ground troops.
"They do not dare to come because their hearts are full of fear from the mujahideen" thanks to their experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq, Baghdadi says.
There is also a thinly veiled hint in Baghdadi's message that ISIS will look for further opportunities to export its war to the "far abroad.'"
"We promise you that anyone who participates in the war on the Islamic State will pay a high price and will regret it, so, plot O America, plot O Europe, plot O Russia," he says.
If ISIS has its way, it will answer setbacks in its heartlands with attacks thousands of miles away.
(CNN)
