Published 14:41 IST, November 1st 2019
Syrian President Assad doubts Baghdadi's death, equates to Bin Laden
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has raised uncertainties over al-Baghdadi's death, compares it to former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's public execution.
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Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi's death was vaunted by the United States as a consequential triumph against the ISIS, however, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has raised uncertainties over the so-called caliph's death and drawn parallel with the killing of Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, the RT reported. The President of Syria analogised the public execution of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein with the killing of terrorists Baghdadi and Bin Laden that was "not shown." Moreover, Al-Assad stated that the US should not be believed unless there has been evidence to back their claim.
Al-Assad said, "We do not need such credit. We are the ones fighting terrorism. We have no relations and have had no contact with any American institutions. Why were the remains of Baghdadi not shown? This is the same scenario that was followed by Bin Laden. If they are going to use different pretexts in order not to show the remains, let us recall how (former Iraqi) President Saddam Hussein was captured and how the whole operation was shown from A to Z; they showed pictures and video clips after they captured him."
"This is part of the tricks played by the Americans. That is why we should not believe everything they say unless they come up with evidence. American politicians are actually guilty until proven innocent, not the other way around," the President of Syria said as per an RT report.
Al-Assad in addition called the entire US operation against Baghdadi in northwest Syria's Idlib a "trick." He added how Baghdadi was just a tool and that he would be recreated or ISIS may be reproduced, however, the director of would remain unchanged- the US "I believe the whole thing regarding this operation is a trick. Baghdadi will be recreated under a different name, a different individual, or ISIS in its entirety might be reproduced as needed under a different name but with the same thought and the same purpose. The director of the whole scenario is the same, the Americans," Assad added.
ISIS confirms Baghdadi's death
Five days after the US conducted an operation against the so-called caliph of the ISIS, the hardline terror organisation confirmed his death on October 31. Through their official media outlet, ISIS announced Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi as the new leader. It further announced that the ISIS is not restricted to the Middle East and would continue with its mission.
Reportedly the speech said, "America, don't you realise that the Islamic State is now at the forefront of Europe and West Africa? It is extended from the East to the West."
The US President Donald Trump had given the graphic details of al-Baghdadi's killing. Al-Baghdadi's death comes as symbolically significant to dismantle the group, that recruited fighters from across the world by harnessing the internet, by latching on to the radical ideology. ISIS in 2014 gained prominence through its ultra-hardline ways of mass killing, beheading, raping and sex slavery in Syria and Iraq.
14:31 IST, November 1st 2019