ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – US President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday in a White House statement that Islamic State (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed in a US special operations mission in northwest Syria.
US special forces brought the “world’s number one terrorist to justice”, Trump said, claiming Baghdadi detonated a suicide vest after being cornered “whimpering” in a tunnel with three of his children.
“Baghdadi did not die like a hero but a dog whimpering and screaming... he died like a coward,” Trump said.
“Our dogs chased him down a dead end tunnel, he took three of his young children with him and he ignited his waist bomb.”
“His body was mutilated by the blast. The tunnel had caved in on it in addition. But test results gave certain immediate and totally positive identification. It was him.”
“The thug who tried so hard to intimidate others spent his last moments in utter fear, in total panic and dread, terrified of the American forces bearing down on him.”
Several of Baghdadi's followers were also killed in the “dangerous and daring nighttime raid”, the US president said.
“There were two women, both wives, both wearing vests ... they were dead but did not detonated their vests,” he said.
No US personnel were lost in the operation and 11 children were removed from the scene without harm, Trump said.
Asked where the operation was deployed from, Trump said: “I’d rather not say, we landed in a friendly port, in a friendly country.” Russia was pre-warned about the operation, but the US did not disclose the target, he added.
“The Kurds gave us some information that turned out to be helpful,” he added.
