Report: Islamic State leader replaced due to serious injuries - Daniel Siryoti, Eli Leon and Israel Hayom Staff

by Daniel Siryoti, Eli Leon and Israel Hayom Staff

Abu Alaa al-Afr, a mysterious figure, reportedly replaces Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as leader of Islamic State group, The Guardian reports • Baghdadi allegedly remains incapacitated due to spinal damage suffered two months ago in coalition airstrike.

No longer in charge? Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

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Photo credit: AP

Salah al-Din Mahamid

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Photo credit: Facebook

Abu Alaa al-Afri has reportedly replaced Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as leader of the Islamic State group, the British paper The Guardian reported over the weekend. Al-Baghdadi, according to the report, remains incapacitated due to spinal damage he suffered two months ago during a coalition airstrike. 

Three sources close to Islamic State confirmed to The Guardian that al-Baghdadi's wounds could mean he will never again lead the radical Sunni Islamist organization.

Al-Afri remains a mysterious figure, with no known photographs or videos of him. Al-Afri, who reportedly holds a degree in physics and is said to be intelligent with considerable administration skills, was appointed al-Baghdadi's deputy when his predecessor was killed in an airstrike late last year.

In related news, Salah al-Din Mahamid, an Israeli Arab citizen from Umm al-Fahm‎, wrote on his Facebook page that he escaped Israel several months ago with his pregnant wife and joined Islamic State in Syria. 

Mahamid, a former school teacher, posted a photograph of himself and of his baby, with various weapons in the background. 

Mahamid wrote: "I confirm that I am in the Islamist country with my wife who converted to Islam and joined me. Just last month, our son was born." 

Mahamid was arrested in the past on suspicion of joining Islamic State while on a trip to Jordan. He was released on probation and a short while later fled with his wife, a Russian immigrant who converted to Islam, to Jordan, and then to Iraq and Syria.

Daniel Siryoti, Eli Leon and Israel Hayom Staff

Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=25199

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