Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, an increasingly paranoid ISIS leader, is reportedly refusing to go to sleep or emerge from his underground hideouts without a suicide vest strapped to his body, according to Reuters.
al-Baghdadi is one of many ISIS leaders who’s behavior is becoming increasingly erratic as a U.S.-led coalition continues to gain ground and take territory away from the terrorist group in the Battle for Mosul. Maj. Gen. Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi Special Forces told reporters that a source inside the city told Iraqi officials:
“[al-Baghdadi] has cut down on his movements and neglects his appearance, He lives underground and has tunnels that stretch to different areas. He doesn’t sleep without his suicide bomber vest so he can set it off if he’s captured.”
al-Baghdadi fears being captured by enemy forces and plans to keep the vest on indefinitely so that he may activate the device at a moments notice, should he be captured. He, like many other ISIS leaders, is also encouraging ISIS soldiers to act in increasingly unpredictable and violent manners as the coalition continues to apply pressure. Approximately two weeks ago he released a recording urging his fighters to lash out. He stated:
“Oh you who seek martyrdom! Start your actions! Turn the night of the disbelievers into day…Totally decimate their territories, and make their blood flow like rivers,”
[revad2]
