ISIS Chief Baghdadi dies like ”a dog” in US military operation in NW Syria

Washington: US Special Operations commandos carried out a raid in Syria’s  north-west province of Idlib in search of Islamic State (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi is now dead, US President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday.

“Last night, the United States brought the world’s number one terrorist leader to justice. Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi is dead,” he said. “He was a sick and depraved man, and now he’s gone.”

President along with other officials like US Defence Secretary Mark Esper, Vice President Mike Pence and several top generals sat in the White House situation room as the raid took place.

While briefing press President Trump said Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi detonated his suicide vest after fleeing into a tunnel, chased by US military dogs. During the suicide blast three of his children and two wives were also killed while there was no causalities to US troops, Trump added.

Baghdadi who was the target of the US’  overnight mission in the village of Barisha came to prominence in 2014, when he announced the creation of a “caliphate” in areas of Iraq and Syria.

In the briefing by Mr Trump, at a n ontraditional time for presidential remarks ie. on Sunday, he said al-Baghdadi died like “a dog” and “a coward”.

“He [Baghdadi] died after running into a dead-end tunnel whimpering and crying and screaming all the way. The compound had been cleared by this time,” he added.

During the briefing President also thanked Turkey and Russia for cooperation as the region was under Russian and Syrian government’s control post the controversial abrupt pullout of US military sparking a bipartisan criticism for the administration’s policies and decisions.

Hours before the announcement a cryptic tweet by President threw media into a frenzy with reports from leading US publications claims about killing of Islamic State leader.

The announcement comes at a crucial time as a boost for Trump and other White House officials as focus from impeachment inquiries launched by Democrats could be easily overshadowed.

Washington Post, faced some flak on twitter following a headline on one its obituaries calling ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi “austere religious scholar”.

Another controversy erupted as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed Trump notified Russia of Baghdadi’s apparent death even before informing congressional leaders.