ISIS waves aside Western coalition as offensive against it continues

Reclusive ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has waved aside Western coalition against the Islamic State group in a 24-minute audio saying airstrikes by the international coalition will only increase his group’s determination and resolve.

In the message which was al-Baghdadi’s first since May, the leader claimed that his self-styled “caliphate” is doing well despite an unprecedented alliance against it and also criticized the recently announced Saudi-led Islamic military coalition against terrorism.

Read also: ISIS fighters win safe passage in deal with Syrian govt

The message was purportedly sent to slight Western alliance after ISIS fended off ground attacks around places like Ramadi and airstrikes by U.S., Russian and other forces.

“Soldiers of the Islamic State be patient because you are on the right path,” al-Baghdadi said. “Be patient, because God is with you.”

Meanwhile, a U.S.-backed coalition of rebels in Syria — including Syrian Kurdish, Arab and Christian groups — captured a major dam on the Euphrates River from the Islamic State group as part of the coalition’s march on IS-held areas in northern Syria.

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