ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Islamic State group has released an propaganda tape, purportedly from its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in which the self-proclaimed "caliph" of the jihadist group promised that the Shiite-majority cities of Baghdad and Karbala are the group’s next targets. A website affiliated with the jihadists released a video on Tuesday titled “Islamic State controls Ramadi” in which ISIS fighters were shown celebrating the occupation of Ramadi, capital of Anbar province, which fell on Sunday. The video contained of an audio message, allegedly from Baghdadi, who thanked his militias for “the Ramadi victory.” “After Ramadi, will come Baghdad and Karbala,” said the purported Baghdadi who has not been seen in months. It was not immediately possible to verify the voice as Baghdadi's. According to Baghdad’s Security Committee, officials are not concerned about Baghdad’s safety despite the the ISIS pledge to attack the capital. “Only five percent of the Hashd al-Shaabi [Popular Mobilization Units] have been sent to Ramadi. The other 95 percent is still in Baghdad, aimed at protecting the city’s security and stability,” said a statement released by the security committee on Tuesday. The statement claimed as many as 60,000 Hashd al-Shaabi fighters are currently inside Baghdad. This is the second audio message purportedly from Baghdadi. In May, a 35-minute audio message was posted on militant websites with Baghdadi's purported voice exhorting all Muslims to take up arms and fight on behalf of the group's self-styled caliphate in Anbar province. The ISIS leader has appeared in public only once, in a video showing him delivering a Friday sermon in the extremist stronghold of Mosul last July. Reports surfaced last month that he was seriously wounded in Iraq, a claim that has yet to be confirmed. Karbala, a holy city for Shiites, is located about 100km southwest of Baghdad. Experts believe the control of the Sunni city of Ramadi is the second most significant defeat of Iraqi security forces after Mosul’s fall last year. Iraqi Army personnel were pictured racing out of the city despite the support of US-led airstrikes targeting the extremists' positions.
