Hero dog returns to duty after al-Baghdadi Syria raid, says US general

A US service dog who was injured during raid at hideout of Abu Bakr al-Baghdi in rthwestern Syria has returned to service, a top Pentagon official said. dog is a four-year veteran of SOCOM Canine Program and has been a member of approximately 50 combat missions, US Central Command Commander General Kenneth McKenzie told reporters at a Pentagon news conference on Wednesday.

"He was injured by exposed live electrical cables in tunnel after Baghdi detonated his vest beneath compound, general said, ding dog, whose name was t revealed, has returned to duty.

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McKenzie said that US special operations command military working dogs are critical members of US forces. se animals protect US forces, save civilian lives, separate combatants from ncombatants, and immobilize individuals who express hostile intent, he said. se special dogs are very good at scenting humans and going after m when y're t immediately obvious. 

Abu Bakr al-Baghdi's safe house in rthwest Syria was stormed on Sunday by special forces along with military working dogs and chased world's most wanted terrorist leer as he tried to flee. He was cornered in a tunnel beneath building.

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Pentagon releases video

On Wednesday, Pentagon released visuals of US special forces raid that resulted in death of ISIS caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdi. Among ims released by Defence Department was grainy black-and-white foot of US troops approaching on foot high-walled compound in rthwestern Syria where Baghdi was holed up. Pentagon also released a video of airstrikes on a group of unkwn fighters on ground who opened fire on helicopters that ferried US forces in for assault on Baghdi's compound in Syria's Idlib province.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdi was n buried at sea within 24 hours of his death "in accordance with laws of armed conflict," Marine Corps General Kenneth McKenzie, commander of US Central Command said. He furr ded that hero dog, who pursued Baghdi into tunnel was a four-year veteran of 50 combat missions and h been injured by exposed live cables in tunnel. McKenzie said that despite Baghdi's death, IS remains "dangerous." "We're under illusions that it will go away just because we killed Baghdi," he said. "It will remain."  

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(With PTI inputs)