Abu Bakr al Baghdadi

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was an Iraqi militant who was the first caliph of the Islamic State (IS) from 2014 until his death. Baghdadi was born in Samarra and obtained graduate degrees in Islamic theology in the late 1990s and 2000s. Following the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, Baghdadi led an insurgent group in Iraq and was detained with al-Qaeda commanders at the American Camp Bucca in 2004. His group joined the Mujahideen Shura Council (MSC) coalition in 2006 and fought alongside Al-Qaeda in Iraq. Upon the dissolution of the MSC in October 2006, Baghdadi became a leading member of the newly established Islamic State of Iraq organization, and rose through the group's ranks until he was appointed its emir, the highest leader, in 2010. In March 2013, the group renamed itself as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), announcing its intention to expand into Syria and forcibly assimilate the Al-Nusra Front, leading to a conflict with Al-Qaeda's general command. In June 2014, Baghdadi declared himself the caliph of the Islamic State, claiming authority over all Muslims worldwide. He also announced the change of the group's name to simply the Islamic State (IS). Under his leadership, IS expanded its territory in Iraq and Syria, and established branches and affiliates in other countries, such as Libya, Nigeria, Afghanistan, and the Philippines. IS also carried out or inspired numerous terrorist attacks around the world, targeting civilians, religious minorities, and security forces. Baghdadi was one of the most wanted terrorists in the world, with several countries offering bounties for his capture or death. He was rarely seen in public, and only released a few audio and video messages to his followers. He was killed in a raid by U.S. special forces in Barisha, Syria, on October 27, 2019. He detonated a suicide vest, killing himself and two of his children. He was 48 years old.