US President Donald Trump speaks about Syria in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House in Washington, DC.
Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
President Donald Trump on Sunday morning announced that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead after the U.S. military launched a raid in Syria.
“He died like a dog. He died like a coward. The world is now a much safer place,” Trump said in a nationally televised address from the White House.
Baghdadi died after running into the end of tunnel, “whimpering and crying and screaming all the way,” as he was chased by American military dogs, Trump said. With his three children, Baghdadi then ignited his suicide vest, killing himself and all three children, the president said.
The leader of the so-called Islamic State was targeted near Barisha, Syria overnight, according to two U.S. officials. The mission included helicopters, jets and drones.
U.S. forces fired from the air and then landed and gathered intelligence. There were no reports of U.S. casualties in the raid.
“Baghdadi’s demise demonstrates America’s relentless pursuit of terrorist leaders,” Trump said. “He was a sick and depraved man, and now he’s gone.”
The military operation comes after Trump’s controversial decision to draw down troops in Syria, clearing the way for a Turkish military operation against the Kurds, who fought alongside the U.S. to defeat the so-called Islamic State.
“We don’t want to keep soldiers between Syria and Turkey for the next 200 years … We’re out, but we are leaving soldiers to secure the oil,” Trump said.
Syrian Kurdish forces claimed on Sunday that they participated in the operation. Kurdish commander Mazloum Abdi tweeted: “Successful historical operation due to a joint intelligence work with the United States of America.”
