Thread by @Rita_Katz

1) BREAKING: #ISIS’ Furqan issues new video showing leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, marking the first time he is shown in a video since his July 2014 sermon at the Great Mosque in #Mosul

2) The video shows Baghdadi in a casual conversational setting with others (their faces blurred). He talks about war against "Crusaders" and about battles in #Baghouz #Syria being over, indicating that this interview was filmed somewhat recently.

3) In the vid, titled “In the Hospitality of the Emir of the Believers,” Baghdadi praises #SriLanka attackers over images of the attackers/attack (though not in the visual interview section; the audio may have thus been added via a later recording)--calling it revenge for Baghouz

4) Baghdadi also accepts pledges from #BurkinaFaso and #Mali, directly mentioning Abu Walid al-Sahrawi and praising him and his attacks against French forces and their allies. This marks ISIS' most significant endorsement/embrace of Sahrawi to date. news.siteintelgroup.com/blog/index.php…

5) There is serious danger not only to the fact that Baghdadi, #ISIS’ so-called Caliph, is still alive--but also that he is able to reemerge to his supporters and reaffirm the group’s us-vs-the-world message after all the progress made against the group.

6) #Baghdadi mourned several foreign military/media members who were killed in the siege on #Baghuz, incl. the brothers Fabien & Jean-Michel Clain from #France, & others from #Australia, #Belgium, & #Chechnya - further confirming an area known to have high # of foreign fighters.