US special ops ‘kill ISIS terror boss Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in top secret raid in Syria’
US special forces have successfully carried out a top secret raid to kill ISIS terror boss Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, it was reported this morning.
Senior Pentagon and Army officials have confirmed to a US magazine that a targeted attack has killed al-Baghdadi – in hiding since 2017.
And the Defense Department told the White House they have “high confidence” the high-value target killed was him, Newsweek reports.
CIA spies assisted in tracking the ISIS leader to the Islamist bastion of Idlib in northwest Syria, a senior defence official told CNN.
And a US official told Reuters an operation against al-Baghdadi had taken place – although they didn’t say whether it was successful.
Elite troops from 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta – known as Delta Force – reportedly carried out the strike.
If confirmed, it would be the most high profile targeted US military strike since the dramatic killing of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011.
Details of the apparent plan – signed off by President Trump last week – emerged as US military helicopters were reportedly seen near Idlib.
Something very big has just happened!
President Donald Trump
Hinting at the apparent successful operation, President Trump tweeted this morning: “Something very big has just happened!”
The White House announced later that the president will make a “major statement” on Sunday at 9:00am (1pm GMT).
Rumours of al-Baghdadi’s whereabouts have circulated since the destruction of his so-called Caliphate in Iraq and Syria two years ago.
The Iraqi-born cleric had led the sick terror group since 2010 and guided it in its path of bloody conquest across the region in 2014.
MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT
The president was expected to make Sunday’s statement in the White House Diplomatic Reception Room.
He has used the room to make a number of major announcements in the past.
Just last week he used the same room to announce that a ceasefire between Turkey and the Kurds had taken hold.
Al-Baghdadi’s death would be a major victory for the US – which has been slammed internationally in recent weeks for departing Syria.
At home, Trump has personally faced withering criticism from both Republicans and Democrats alike for the withdrawal of US troops.
His decision allowed Turkey to attack America’s Kurdish allies – and Russia has since swept in to fill the power vacuum left by the US.
Trump has also been frustrated by the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry, which he calls an illegitimate witch hunt.
On 16 September, Islamic State’s media network issued a 30-minute audio message allegedly from al-Baghdadi.
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In the clip, he said operations were taking place daily and called on supporters to free jihadi women jailed in camps in Iraq and Syria.
Al-Baghdadi also said the United States and its proxies had been defeated in Iraq and Afghanistan.
At the height of its power Islamic State ruled over millions of people in territory running from northern Syria through towns and villages along the Tigris and Euphrates valleys to the outskirts of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
More to follow…
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