There is no doubt that the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is a big blow to ISIS, but it certainly doesn’t spell the demise for the terrorist group. Newsweek reports that “the organization has already designated a successor:”
Abdullah Qardash, sometimes spelled Kardesh and also known as Hajji Abdullah al-Afari, was said to have been nominated by Baghdadi in August to run the group’s “Muslim affairs” in a widely-circulated statement attributed to ISIS’ official Amaq news outlet, but never publicly endorsed by the group. Though little is known about the former Iraqi military officer who once served under late leader Saddam Hussein, one regional intelligence official asking not to be identified by name or nation told Newsweek that Qardash would have taken over Baghdadi’s role—though it had lost much of its significance by the time of his demise.
Residents in the former ISIS stronghold of Raqqa said they while they were happy about al-Baghdadi’s death, they worried that the group could still make a comeback.
“I was very happy when I heard that al-Baghdadi finally got killed but I don’t think ISIS is defeated with al-Baghdadi’s death,” said Hassoun Abo Darwish, a truck driver who lives in the Syrian city with his wife and three children.
He added that he worried the withdrawal of American troops would result in the return of the group.
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