Published 13:09 IST, October 31st 2019
DNA analysis confirms al-Baghdadi was killed in US operation
The DNA samples confirm that it was Baghdadi's who was killed in the US operation as the samples collected from ISIS Caliph underwear resulted in a direct match
The DNA analysis confirmed that it was Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's who was killed in the US operation as the samples collected from Baghdadi's underwear resulted in a direct match to a 2004 DNA sample collected at an Iraq detention center. The Syrian Kurd had reportedly obtained ISIS's caliph's underwear by an undercover agent to ascertain the identity of the terrorist. According to reports, the spy was placed amid the inner circle of Baghdadi, who then eventually led the US troops to the ISIS chief who died "after running into a dead-end tunnel, whimpering, crying, and screaming all the way," as per the US President Donald Trump.
The US Central Command in a tweet quoted Gen Grank McKenzie CDR USCENTCOM, “After Baghdadi's murder-suicide, our assault force cleared significant debris from the tunnel and secured Baghdadi's remains for DNA identity confirmation.
Kurdish inputs
The Syrian Kurds led- Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) claimed to have played a consequential role in tracking down the ISIS chief to a compound in north Syria's Idlib. A senior consultant to the Syrian Kurds forces, Polat Can intricately detailed how the SDF intelligence aided the US Forces to locate the al-Baghdadi. While SDF categorically stated that it was their intelligence that led the US to Baghdadi, Trump during his address downplayed their effort and said that the Syrian Kurds provided some information "that turned out to be helpful" to the raid that killed the most wanted terrorist. However, Donald Trump thanked Russia, Turkey, Syria, and Iraq for the raid, thus soft-pedaling the role of Syrian Kurds in locating Baghdadi.
The Operation
Detailing about the operation, Trump said that al-Baghdadi was in a room with 11 children. He said that the operation began at 5'o clock and lift-off started 'moments after that'. He then added that the world's most dangerous terrorist died "like a coward". He said that Baghdadi died at the end of the tunnel as the US forces attack dogs chased him. According to the US president, Baghdadi immolated himself with 3 children after which his cave was bombed.
"Last night, the United States brought the world’s number 1 terrorist leader to justice Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi. He died in his compound in a tunnel whimpering crying and screaming. Last night was a great night for the United States and for the world. We will continue to pursue ISIS terrorists to their brutal end. ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi was a depraved and sick man. Now he's gone. He died a coward, running and crying. We had him (Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi) under surveillance for a couple of weeks. The operation against Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi involved eight helicopters and a large group of fighters," Trump had said.
Updated 16:06 IST, October 31st 2019