New Recording From The So-Called Islamic State's Reclusive Leader Released

The so-called Islamic State has released what it claims is a new audio recording of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

In the recording, Baghdadi vows to continue fighting, praising his jihadis despite their recent loss of the IS stronghold of Mosul.

Mosul was liberated extremists in July by Iraqi forces, backed by a US-led coalition.

The recording was released by the IS-run al-Furqan outlet.

Although there is no proof that the recording is al- Baghdadi, the voice in the 46-minute-long audio sounded much like previous recordings of the reclusive IS leader.

The last message from Baghdadi was released in November, also in the form of an audio recording.

The shadowy leader has been running IS since the terror group emerged from al Qaida in Iraq.

However, Russian officials said in June there was a "high probability" that Baghdadi had died in a Russian air strike on the outskirts of the Syrian city of Raqqa.

Despite this, several US officials have stated that they believe him to still be alive.

 In Thursday's recording, Baghdadi sought to console his followers over their recent defeats, saying the top priority for Muslims is to "satisfy" God.

"Victory against their enemies and the enemy of God comes next,"

he said, and lauded what he called his fighters' valiant defence of Mosul.

He also cited as a sign of the continuing effectiveness of the militant group attacks claimed by IS in Europe, the United States and elsewhere.

He made calls on IS followers across the world to continue their jihad and urged Syria's Sunni Muslim majority not to accept the rule of the country's minority Alawites, whose faith is a branch of Shiite Islam.

Syria's government forces, their allies and other forces fighting IS would "not last an hour" without the air cover provided by the Russians and the Americans, he said.