The Islamic State fighters have made all preparations to celebrate its first anniversary of conquering the Iraqi city of Mosul, which was captured on 10 June, but it is still not known if Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi would make a public appearance to mark the occassion.
The Islamic State leader made his first and last known public appearance in Mosul in July 2014.
A month after Isis captured Mosul, The Telegraph reported, "the notoriously secretive jihadi" leader "emerged from the shadows". In the video, Baghdadi, who was speaking from Mosul's Great Mosque, called on all Muslims across the world to "obey" him.
That was the last time that the world ever saw the Isis leader. Since then, there has been dozens of theories about his death, but none substantiated the claim.
BBC's Middle East correspondent Quentin Sommerville claimed on social media that the Isis was decorating the city to celebrate its one year of capturing the city. "Flags out in Mosul as [Isis] prepares to celebrate the anniversary of the city's capture," Sommerville tweeted.
The last update from the Isis leader appeared in May through an audio message, "March Forth Whether Light or Heavy." In the 34-minute recording claimed to be from Baghdadi, he called on Muslims to join the Isis.
"There is no excuse for any Muslim not to migrate to the Islamic State ... Joining (its fight) is a duty on every Muslim. We are calling on you either join or carry weapons (to fight) wherever you are," Baghdadi said in the recording.
The audio recording had emerged after several reports claimed that Baghadi was critically injured in an attack and was forced to hand over the daily operations to a proxy leader.
Inside Mosul
Reports from Mosul reveal that in the last one year, Isis' hold on the city has only grown stronger, so much so that some even believe that the Isis will never leave Mosul.
BBC, which was able to access several videos from Mosul, revealed that the Isis has been able to wield stronger control over the daily affairs of the Mosul people, who are afraid of being punished by the jihadists.
Most schools in the city lie abandoned, women rarely step out of their houses, while mosques and shrines have been blown down by the militant group.
