Islamic State (IS) has reportedly released an audio message which it claimed was from its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. If confirmed, the message would be the first in months.
The audio clip urged Muslims to travel to the caliphate established by the terror outfit in large parts of Iraq and Syria. It also made a reference to the Yemen conflict, indicating that the audio was recent, reported the BBC.
While analysts said that the voice appeared to be Baghdadi's but added it had not been verified yet.
The audio surfaced as doubts clouded the fate of Baghdadi, with reports claiming that the leader had been incapacitated during U.S.-led airstrike.
The news came as IS inched closer (within two kilometers) of the Unesco World Heritage site of Palmyra, one of the archaeological jewels of the Middle East.
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