ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has reportedly handed over control of the terrorist death cult to his henchman known as “The Professor”.

Baghdadi is understood to be so ill and badly injured that he has given up the reigns to Abdullah Qardash.

The terrorist leader is currently in hiding and plotting the death cult’s return after being decimated by Iraq and Syria.

ISIS has lost all its territory and its fighters are now hiding out across the Middle East.

Qardash has been given control to help rebuild the shattered organisation, reports jihadi propaganda arm Amaq.

The Professor Abdullah Qardash
'The Professor' Abdullah Qardash is now reportedly the leader of ISIS

He is a former officer in Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s army and is a longtime ally of Baghdadi.

British forces along with the US and their allies in the Middle East have been instrumental in dismantling ISIS.

ISIS was driven out of its last bolthole in the village of Baghouz earlier this year, with the coalition declaring victory on March 23.

Baghdadi was for sometime missing, with disputed reports other whether he was alive or dead – including the Russians outright claiming they had killed him.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is reportedly seriously ill

He resurfaced earlier this year however in his first new propaganda video in five years, featuring himself restyled as a terrorist fighter than an a religious cleric.

Qardash has taken over amid speculation Baghdadi was previously badly injured in an airstrike in 2017.

He grew close to the terror leader as both were imprisoned in Basra by the US for their links to al-Qiada back in 2003.

It was in the Iraqi prison that Baghdadi converted prisons to his new vision of a terrorist caliphate.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi founded ISIS with a speech in 2014

The Professor is believed to have remained a loyal aide ever since, reports The Times.

His nickname comes from his work as the cult’s top legislator and policymaker.

Qardash was also a confidante of Abu Alaa al-Afri, Baghdadi’s previous deputy, who was killed in a US helicopter gun raid in 2016.

Baghdadi and Qardash are understood to only have a small rag-tag band of terrorist followers left.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi met 'The Professor' while they were both in prison in Iraq

The terror cult founder is also reportedly part paralysed, and is suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure.

Fadhel Abo Ragheef, former security analyst with the Iraqi government, said: “Baghdadi isn’t giving up his position. Qardash has a specific authorisation for logistics and movement.

“There are three likely reasons that he authorised another leader: to lock down the holes inside the organisation, or to unite with Qardash, who is popular among other Isis members.

“He may also be trying to prepare Qardash to lead ISIS in the future.”

Qardash is also understood to a be a divisive figure who could lead to a split in ISIS.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi remains one of the world's most wanted men

ISIS now exists as scattered cells across the Middle East after fleeing into a desert that spans two countries.

Ragheef believes that Qardash’s promotion could reinvigorate the terrorist group – which has not launched a successful attack in Britain since 2017

He said: “The attacks will not increase with Qardash’s new leadership but they will be more specific.”

“They have a lot of power over large lands, even though their funds have been reduced.”