Al-Qaeda: We're returning to old Iraq strongholds, preparing operations to free prisoners and assassinate court officials; US will be attacked

CAIRO (AP) — The first online statement from the new leader of al-Qaida's affiliate in Iraq claims that the militant network is returning to strongholds from which it was driven by U.S. forces and their Sunni allies before the American withdrawal at the end of last year.

The al-Qaida leader claimed the militant group is preparing operations to free prisoners and assassinate court officials.

The audio identified the speaker as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who became head of the Islamic State of Iraq in 2010. It was posted late Saturday on a website regularly used by the militant movement to make statements.

Al-Baghdadi warned the United States that it would soon suffer militant attacks on its territory.

He also invited Muslims to come to Iraq to join his militants.

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