Published 11:02 IST, November 7th 2019
Turkey made no fuss on arrest of Baghdadi's wife, unlike US: Erdogan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that while they captured the wife, of ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, they did not make a 'fuss' about it unlike US
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that while Turkey captured the wife, of the so-called ISIS caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, they did not make a 'fuss' about it, unlike the US. Moreover, Erdogan confirmed the detainment of Baghdadi's sister and brother-in-law on Wednesday while speaking at the Ankara University.
Erdogan said, "The United States said al-Baghdadi killed himself in a tunnel. They started a communication campaign about this. But, I am announcing it here for the first time: We captured his wife and didn't make a fuss like them. Similarly, we also captured his sister and brother-in-law in Syria."
Over a week after the killing of Al Baghdadi, a senior Turkish official has announced the capture of Baghdadi's family members and intended to seek more information about the ISIS from them. While announcing the arrest of Baghdadi's sister, who is speculated to have affiliations with ISIS was cited to be an intelligence "gold mine."
"The arrest of al-Baghdadi's sister is yet another example of the success of our counter-terrorism operations," a Turkish official said. The Turkish forces are now interrogating her husband and daughter-in-law who have also been detained with her. Three of them were reportedly caught in a raid near Azaz, a Turkish-controlled Syrian town near the border.
Baghdadi's killing
Detailing the US operation in Syria's Idlib against the ISIS chief, Donald Trump said that the world's most dangerous terrorist died "like a coward." He claimed that Baghdadi died in his Syrian compound, in a tunnel "whimpering, crying and screaming." While addressing the media, the US President said that he was there himself in the situation room watching the operation live and that it felt as if he was watching a movie.
Donald Trump said, "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."
Updated 11:13 IST, November 7th 2019