A man purported to be the reclusive leader of the militant Islamic State has made what would be his first public appearance at the grand mosque in Iraq's second city, Mosul, according to a video posted on the Internet Saturday.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi speaks of victory.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABU BAKR AL-BAGHDADI, SAYING:

"God has granted your brothers, the Mujahideen, victory and a conquest after years of patience and holy struggle, and enabled them to achieve their objective."

The video, which can not be independently verified, comes as his group, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, changed its name to the Islamic State.

It's also not possible to confirm the authenticity of the recording or the date when it was made.

If confirmed, this would be the first public appearance by the head of the militant group that has swept through and captured parts of northern Iraq.