Baghdad, October 31: Terror group Islamic State (ISIS) on Thursday issued a statement announcing the appointment of Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi as the new leader of the outfit. Al-Quraishi, which could be a pseudonym, would be succeeding dreaded terrorist Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, who was killed in a midnight raid by the special US forces last week. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Raid Videos Released, Watch First Footage of US Daring Operation That Killed ISIS Chief.

The ISIS statement, issued via its news agency Al-Amaq, confirmed the demise of Al-Baghdadi. The group mourned the death of their leader, calling it a setback for the movement to establish the global caliphate. "We mourn you… commander of the faithful,” Abu Hamza al-Quraishi, the spokesperson of the jihadist group, was reported as saying.

Who is Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi?

There is no information related to al-Quraishi released by the Islamic State. The banned group, in its short statement and audio clip, has only announced him as the successor to Al-Baghdadi while mourning the latter's death.

According to Aymenn al-Tamimi, a researcher at Swansea University who is focusing on the creating and operations of the ISIS, said the name is not unheard of. Although he might be a top operative in the group's operation since 2011, his identity might had been altered while announcing him as the successor of Al-Baghdadi.

Tamimi, citing his research, said al-Quraishi could be Hajj Abdullah, a top figure who had worked closely with Al-Baghdadi. Abdullah was also named as the possible successor to Al-Baghdadi by the US State Department. "It could be someone we know, who perhaps has just assumed this new name," he was reported as saying.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 31, 2019 11:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).