The surrounding areas are largely controlled by a rival of the Islamic State group — the al-Qaida-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS — although other jihadi groups sympathetic to IS operate there. ..…

This, he said, explains why Baghdadi was in the Idlib province of northwestern Syria, an area largely controlled by a rival group — the al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham — although other jihadi groups sympathetic to Islamic State are also there. . ..…

The leading Islamic organizations – the International Union of Muslim Scholars headed by Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Hizb ut-Tahrir – have rejected Caliph Baghdadi’s call to all Muslims to swear him their allegiance. ..…

The death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may be victory for U.S than the defeat of Islamic State. Formerly known as Jabhat Nusra, Hayat Tahrir al- Sham is Qaeda's group Syria and is led by al-Baghdadi's former deputy and time Abu Mohammad al-Julani. ..…