Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in his first purported speech in nearly a year, called on followers to fight on despite recent defeats, according to an audio recording posted on the group's media network.
In the 55-minute statement, Baghdadi congratulated what he described as the "striking lions" behind recent attacks in Canada and Europe and called on followers to use bombs, knives or cars to carry out more attacks.
Baghdadi also offered greetings for Eid al-Adha, a Muslim feast observed this week, suggesting that the message was recorded recently.
"For the mujahideen [holy warriors], the scale of victory or defeat is not dependent on a city or town being stolen or subject to that who has aerial superiority, intercontinental missiles or smart bombs," Baghdadi said in Arabic in the recording, posted on his al-Furqan media group.
"Oh caliphate soldiers … trust in God's promise and His victory … for with hardship comes relief and a way out," he added, addressing followers in various cities in Syria.
The voice on the recording was not verified as being Baghdadi's.
The Islamic State group, which until last year controlled large areas in Syria and Iraq, has been driven into the desert by successive defeats in offensives by international allies in both countries.
Baghdadi, who declared himself ruler of all Muslims in 2014 after capturing Iraq's main northern city Mosul, is now believed to be hiding in the Iraqi-Syrian border region after losing all the cities and towns of his self-proclaimed caliphate.
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for attacks around the world, including a July 22 shooting in Toronto that left two people dead and 13 wounded. Canadian police said they had no evidence to support the claim.
Baghdadi also called on Iraqi followers to keep up attacks against Shiite Muslims and what he described as apostates – a reference to Sunni Muslims fighting against his group.
In the recording, he called on followers to remain loyal to the leaders of his movement and urged the citizens of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Jordan to overthrow their rulers.
The secretive Islamic State leader has been reported killed or wounded numerous times. One of his sons was reported by the group's news channel to have been killed in the city of Homs in Syria earlier this year.
Baghdadi also warned that Idlib province in Syria was about to fall as Russia and Syrian government forces were preparing to invade it. Idlib province is in the last swathe of territory still held by rebels opposed to the rule of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
In June, the United Nations regional humanitarian coordinator warned that Islamic State and other militant groups were mingled with the population in Idlib, making it a "highly explosive" situation.
