Does Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi continue to command Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL)? Was his deputy, Abu Alaa al-Afari, killed? And who is really running the jihadist militant organization? In comparison to the intricate details that accompany the horrific executions carried out by ISIS, the video clips presenting the organization’s military victories and the “operational” reports it publishes on dozens of websites – as far as the leadership goes, there is almost complete radio silence.

The Daily Beast website reported last Sunday that Baghdadi is being treated by nine doctors, who were brought in especially to the city of Raqqa, Syria – the “capital” of the Islamic State – and that he can function and even sends orders for action. ISIS also released an audio messagepurportedly from Baghdadi on Thursday, in which he called on Muslims to “emigrate” to the caliphate.

On the other hand, there are many reports from Arab websites that Baghdadi was injured in the spine, with some even saying he is incapacitated. As for Afari, reports on Wednesday of his death are based on a statement by the Iraqi Defense Ministry, but similar reports of his death appeared two years ago. In any case, Afari delivered the Friday sermon last week in Mosul’s grand mosque – the sermon that Baghdadi traditionally delivers as caliph of the Islamic State. It will be interesting to see who stands in front of the crowd of worshippers in the mosque on Friday.

Read the article in full at Haaretz.