Baghdadi sought protection of rival group, betrayed by his own

Islamic State terrorist Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who got killed in a US Special Operations forces raid, paid members of a rival group for protection. Receipts recovered by researchers established that the UN-designated terrorist paid at least $67,000 to members of Hurras al-Din, an unofficial branch of al-Qaida, reported an American daily.

Payments for security and logistical expenses

The ISIS terrorist was able to hide in Idlib province, which is the base of Hurras al-Din, because he was paying protection money to its members. The recovered book reportedly contained eight receipts which showed payments made by ISIS to Hurras al-Din members for security, salaries and logistical expenses. However, the receipts didn’t indicate any collusion at the organisational level, the American daily quoted an independent Syria researcher.

Read: DNA Analysis Confirms Al-Baghdadi Was Killed In US Operation

Betrayed by an insider

Baghdadi was dependent on a rival group but was betrayed by one of the insiders who helped him to move around Syria and oversaw the construction work of his safe house. The ISIS operative had detailed knowledge about the Syrian safe house and was even present in the compound during the raid. The ISIS operative, whose nationality is not known, is expected to get some or all of the $25 million US bounty announced for Baghdadi.

Read: Baghdadi's Death Is Not Enough, Says Nobel Laureate Nadia Murad

Role of Syrian Democratic Forces

Earlier, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had confirmed that one of their sources was able to reach Baghdadi’s Syrian safe house. In a series of tweets, senior SDF official Polat Can claimed that the source was able to bring Al Baghdadi’s underwear to conduct a DNA test in order to make sure that the person was Al Baghdadi himself. 

“All intelligence and access to Al Baghdadi as well as the identification of his place, were the result of our own work. Our intelligence source was involved in sending coordinates, directing the airdrop, participating in and making the operation a success until the last minute,” said the official.

US President Donald Trump, during the briefing on Baghdadi’s death, had also confirmed that the Kurds provided some information that turned out to be helpful,

General Kenneth McKenzie, the head of the U.S. Central Command, said that six people, including four female Islamic State members, were killed in the raid. General McKenzie further said that Baghdadi dragged two children, not three as officials had originally said, with him inside the tunnel and detonated his suicide vest.

Read: New ISIS Chief Could Replace Al-Baghdadi In Weeks: US Official

Read: Hero Dog Returns To Duty After Al-Baghdadi Syria Raid, Says US General