Published 21:19 IST, October 27th 2019
Syria Kurd forces hail 'joint op' with US troops against Baghdadi
Syria's top Kurdish commander Mazloum Abdi said his forces had contributed to intelligence work paving the way for a US operation against Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Syria's top Kurdish commander Mazloum Abdi on Sunday said his forces had contributed to intelligence work that paved the way for an American operation against Islamic State group founder and chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. "For five months there has been joint intel cooperation on the ground and accurate monitoring, until we achieved a joint operation to kill Abu Bakir al-Bagdadi (sic)," Abdi wrote on Twitter. Abdi also described the operation as "historic".
Turkey claims a role too
After American media reports stated that US forces have targeted and killed the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Turkey on Sunday claimed that there was 'coordination' between Ankara and Washington before the operation. "Prior to the US Operation in Idlib Province of Syria last night, information exchange and coordination between the military authorities of both countries took place (sic)," the Turkish defence ministry said in a tweet. However, the ministry did not share any details or evidence to back up this statement.
Trump confirms al-Baghdadi's dead
Making the "big" announcement on Sunday evening, the United States President Donald Trump confirmed that ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed. Addressing a press conference, Trump said that US forces carried out an operation in the north-west Syrian region of Idlib to kill Baghdadi. He said that Baghdadi had been under US intelligence surveillance for 'a couple of weeks'. Trump said that the United States lost no soldier in the operation and claimed that many ISIS men and Baghdadi's aides were killed in 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 three children after which his cave was bombed.
Updated 22:02 IST, October 27th 2019