“The injury of Baghdadi hasn’t affected operations yet, but [his replacement] could see the beginning of disputes between Isil’s foreign fighters and its Iraqis,” Mr Hishimi said.

Mr Baghdadi has been a towering figure in the rise of Isil, and its al-Qaeda affiliated predecessor.

“Their big strategic moves have all been masterminded by Baghdadi, even if others have helped with the specifics,” said Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, a Fellow at the Middle East Forum.