Unites States (US) President, Donald Trump, on Sunday announced the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) in an overnight U.S. military operation in northwest Syria.
Trump confirmed the death of the world’s most wanted man in a morning address to the nation on Sunday October 27, 2019, from the White House.
“Baghdadi died after running into the end of a tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way, as he was chased by American military dogs. He died like a dog, like a coward, the world is now a much safer place,” President Trump said.
Baghdadi is said to have ignited his suicide vest, killing himself and three other children that were with him, after running into the end of a tunnel.
Trump stated that, Baghdadi’s demise demonstrated America’s relentless pursuit of terrorist leaders.
The death of Baghdadi, who was a dangerous enemy of the US and its allies in the Middle East brings to an end, years long international manhunt that spanned two US presidential administrations.
Baghdadi has led ISIS since 2010. He was last seen alive in a video in April, in which he sat cross-legged on the ground praising the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks against churches in Sri Lanka.
According to the president, an on-site DNA test confirmed Baghdadi’s death just 15 minutes after he was killed, and that American troops brought back “body parts” from the scene.
Source: cnbc.com