The Islamic State leader has won the allegiance of Egypt's deadliest militant group.
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis pledged its loyalty Monday to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
The Egyptian jihadist group announced their support on its Twitter account where it referred to Baghdadi as "caliph" and urged other Muslims to support him.
Senior Iraqi officials reported Sunday that Baghdadi had been wounded in an airstrike, but the U.S. Defense Department says it has no such information.
Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Ubaydi purportedly issued a message on his Facebook page confirming that Baghdadi was wounded in a U.S. airstrike Friday in the northern city of Mosul.
The Iraqi Interior Ministry also confirmed the news to the Associated Press. Various other reports claim the airstrike killed one of Baghdadi's close aides.
Earlier Sunday, Britain's senior military officer warned that even if the reports are true, the Islamic State will regenerate its command. British Chief of Defense Staff Nick Houghton said that even if Baghdadi were killed, he would not rush to the conclusion that it would be a "strategic reverse" for the insurgents.