Islamic State Announces Al-Baghdadi Successor

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was confirmed by the US to have died at the weekend (Picture: US Department of Defense).

So-called Islamic State has announced who will be the group's new leader to replace Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi has been announced as the new IS leader in an audio file released by the terror group's media arm, al-Furqan Foundation.

US President Donald Trump confirmed al-Baghdadi's death, following an operation by American special forces personnel at the weekend.

In a statement, Mr Trump said the deceased IS leader was pursued through a dead-end tunnel, taking three of his children with him, following a two-hour raid.

Graphic detail was given in the description of the IS leader's death, in which he detonated an explosive vest, killing himself and the three children.

The US military has released video footage which shows parts of the raid on al-Baghdadi's compound in Syria.

The speaker in the audio message, Abu Hamza al-Qurashi, also confirmed the death of Abu Hassan al-Muhajir - the IS spokesman killed in a joint operation carried out by US and Kurdish forces, hours after the death of al-Baghdadi.