ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi believed killed in US operation: Reports
Washington/IBNS: ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may have been killed in Syria in a special operations raid against ISIS, though an official confirmation is awaited, media reports said.
Late Saturday, White House issued a statement that President Donald Trump will make a "major statement" amid media reports of a military operation against the ISIS in Syria.
"The President of the United States will be making a major statement tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock (1300 GMT)," said White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley, without divulging details.
The statement was followed by a tweet by US President Donal Trump.
Something very big has just happened!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2019
Director of SITE Intelligence Group Rita Katz tweeted: "Breaking: Reports that #ISIS leader #Baghdadi killed in a #US op in #Idlib, #Syria. No official confirmation yet. ISIS silent on the matter thus far. Tho various reports in the past claimed his death, this claim def carries more weight."
1)Breaking: Reports that #ISIS leader #Baghdadi killed in a #US op in #Idlib, #Syria. No official confirmation yet. ISIS silent on the matter thus far. Tho various reports in the past claimed his death, this claim def carries more weight. pic.twitter.com/7gCW9Su8EQ
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) October 27, 2019
She further tweeted: "If confirmed, Baghdadi’s death is a huge blow to #ISIS & its intern network. However, based on group's history (death of Zarqawi & other leaders), ISIS has illustrated its operational resiliency, and will def capitalize on Baghdadi’s death for recruitment & calls for attacks."
2) If confirmed, Baghdadi’s death is a huge blow to #ISIS & its intern network. However, based on group's history (death of Zarqawi & other leaders), ISIS has illustrated its operational resiliency, and will def capitalize on Baghdadi’s death for recruitment & calls for attacks
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) October 27, 2019
After heading the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), also known as al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) in a statement on 8 April 2013, al-Baghdadi had announced the formation of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) – alternatively translated from the Arabic as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
In June 2014, ISIL announced the establishment of a worldwide caliphate and al-Baghdadi was named its caliph, to be known as "Caliph Ibrahim", and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant was renamed the Islamic State.
Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi was designated by the United States Department of State as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist who was "responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in the Middle East, including the brutal murder of numerous civilian hostages from Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States".
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