ISIS appoint new leader chosen by Al-Baghdadi before he was killed in daring raid

Al-Baghdadi’s successor is believed to be Abdullah Qardash, also known as Hajji Abdullah al-Afari.

He was recruited by Al-Baghdadi in August to help run the group’s ‘Muslim affairs’, according to ISIS Official Amaq news outlet.

While Qardash’s promotion was well circulated among militants, the successor was never officially sworn in by the group, according to Newsweek reports.

The former Iraqi military officer served Saddam Hussein and it is thought he would have taken over Baghdadi’s role but it lost its prominence by the time of his death. 

Donald Trump confirmed the former leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed during an overnight raid in Syria, in what the US president called a major milestone against the terrorist group.

Al-Baghdadi killed himself during the raid detonating a suicide vest after ‘crying and whimpering’.

Mr Trump added: ”He reached the end of the tunnel as our dogs chased him down. He ignited his vest, killing himself and his three children.

“His body was mutilated by the blasts. The tunnel had caved on him.”

More to follow.

source: express.co.uk