As anti-ISIS forces pursue Mr. al-Muhajir and other senior members of the militant group, it is assumed that they avoid detection by shunning electronics, especially cellphones, and limiting contact with couriers, whose movements can be tracked. That raises a number of questions: How did he know about the slaughter of Muslims in New Zealand? He could only come like a frightened and cowardly thief.”Among the revelations in the recording is that Mr. al-Baghdadi, the group’s leader, is still alive, at least according to the spokesman. Although Mr. al-Baghdadi has been declared dead several times, most recently by Russia after an airstrike in Syria, American officials have long maintained that he is most likely still living. Mr. al-Muhajir closes the recording by referring to Mr. al-Baghdadi using an honorific, “May God preserve him,” that is employed when a person is still alive.

Source: New York Times March 19, 2019 01:52 UTC