US President Donald Trump delivered a special announcement on Sunday announcing the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a US Special Ops raid, explaining that the success could not have been achieved without the acknowledgement and help of other nations such as “Russia, Turkey, Syria and Iraq.”
“The United States has been searching for Baghdadi for many years,” Trump began. “He died… whimpering and screaming. The only ones remaining were Baghdadi in the tunnel, and he had dragged 3 of his young children with him that were led to certain death. He reached the end of the tunnel as our dogs chased him down. He ignited his vest, killing himself and his three children.
“The thug that tried so hard to intimidate others spent his last moments in total fear,” Trump continued. “Baghdadi’s demise demonstrates… our commitment to the induring and total defeat of ISIS and other terrorist organizations. Our reach is very long.”
Trump additionally clarified that no US personnel were killed in the operation, though one dog was injured entering the tunnel. He stated that the number of people killed on Baghdadi’s end of the operation will be announced in the next 24 hours.
He described watching the operation, which he saw along with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley, National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, and several other military and intelligence officials, as something “like a movie.”
“Today’s events are another reminder that we will continue to pursue the remaining ISIS terrorists,” Trump stated. “That also goes for other terrorist organizations. Baghdadi and the losers who work for him, and losers they are, had no idea what they were getting into. In some cases, they were very frightened puppies; in other cases, hardcore killers. Baghdadi was vicious and violent, and he died in a vicious and violent way, as a coward, running and crying.”
“I also want to thank the Syrian Kurds for certain support they were able to give us,” he added.
- The Jerusalem Post
