Trump confirms ISIS leader al-Baghdadi killed in US operation
US President Donald Trump on Sunday announced that US special forces had killed “Islamic State” (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in northern Syria.
“Last night, the United States brought the world’s number one terrorist leader to justice,” Trump said. “Al-Baghdadi is dead.”
“He reached the end of the tunnel as our dogs chased him down,” Trump added. Al-Baghdadi detonated a vest laden with explosives when he was cornered in a tunnel. The explosion killed three of his children.
- A handout photo made available by Maxar 27 October 2019 shows a satellite image taken 28 September 2019 of the reported residence of the former ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in northwestern Syria near the village of Barisha. Al-Baghdadi was killed in a US military operation in northwest Syria, President Donald Trump announced 27 October 2019. EPA-EFE/MAXAR HANDOUT
US special forces were able to identify al-Baghdadi 15 minutes after he was killed by conducting a DNA test on-site. The DNA test was crucial given that al-Baghdadi had been declared dead numerous times.
There were no US casualties during the operation.
US forces spent around two hours in the compound and removed “highly sensitive material and information”.
Washington received help from Russia, Turkey, Syria, Iraq and the Syrian Kurds.
Russia and Turkey allowed the raid to fly over their territory.
