Leader of the so-called ‘Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’ (ISIL) terrorist group Abu Bakr Baghdadi is still hiding in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, Fuad Hussein, chief of staff to Iraqi Kurdistan’s President Masoud Barzani, said.

“Baghdadi is there and, if he is killed, it will mean the collapse of the whole [ISIL] system,” Hussein told the Independent media outlet on Tuesday citing Iraqi government sources.

He noted that after Baghdadi’s death ISIL terrorists would have to choose a new leader amid the ongoing battle for Mosul but any new leader would not have authority and prestige of Baghdadi.

Hussein also said that the presence of Baghdadi in Mosul would complicate the operation aimed at liberation of the city as ISIL terrorists would fight to death to defend their leader. “It is obvious that they will lose, but not how long this will take to happen,” he added.

The operation to retake Mosul from ISIL has been ongoing since October 17. More than 30,000 Iraqi and 4,000 Kurdish fighters are taking part in the offensive supported by US-led coalition airstrikes.

Source: Sputnik