USA

US releases first video of raid on al Baghdadi compound

cde.news desk 31 October 2019, 05:27 · 2 min read

epa07961150 A screengrab from a handout military drone video made available by the US Defense Video and Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS) shows the compound of ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi during the US forces (bottom) raid, northwestern Syria, 26 October 2019 (Issued 30 October 2019). US Forces killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the founder and leader of ISIS, in northwest Syria on 26 October 2019. EPA-EFE/DVIDS HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie briefed Pentagon reporters on the Oct. 26 raid in northwestern Syria that resulted in Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s death. Pentagon officials also released videos of the raid.

McKenzie said planning for the raid began much earlier. He said Baghdadi was a priority target for Centcom, and as a result, was the subject of an intense effort to bring him to justice.

The head of US Central Command said the destroyed buildings were left looking like “a parking lot with large potholes”.

McKenzie said two children had died with Baghdadi in the tunnel – not three as previously reported.

He also could not confirm President Donald Trump’s graphic description of Baghdadi whimpering and crying as he died.

He said an unknown number of fighters also died after opening fire on US helicopters.

He added: “I want to make it clear that despite the high-pressure and high-profile nature of this assault that every effort was made to avoid civilian casualties and to protect children we suspected would be in the compound.”

Gen McKenzie confirmed that the IS leader had been identified through his DNA – adding that samples had been on file since Baghdadi’s detention in an Iraqi prison in 2004.

He said Baghdadi’s remains were flown back to a staging base for identification and were then buried at sea within 24 hours of his death “in accordance with the laws of armed conflict”.