BEIRUT: The shadowy leader of the Islamic State (IS) group claimed to appear for the first time in five years in a video released by the extremist group’s propaganda arm, acknowledging defeat in the group’s last stronghold in Syria but vowing a “long battle” ahead.

The man said to be Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in the video also claimed the Easter Day bombings in Sri Lanka, which killed over 250 people, were “part of the revenge” that awaits the west.

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