|
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27-- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been killed in a U.S. military operation in Syria. As the Trump administration hailed the death of al-Baghdadi, some experts and former U.S. officials warned that the fight against terrorism is far from over. Speaking at the White House, Trump said U.S. Special Operations Forces conducted a raid Saturday night targeting al-Baghdadi in northwestern Syria, during which al-Baghdadi killed himself by igniting a suicide vest. Al-Baghdadi, 48, whose real name was Ibrahim Awad al-Badri, announced the establishment of a caliphate, or the so-called Islamic State, in June 2017. Over the years, al-Baghdadi has been reported multiple times to have been killed, but none of the reports has been confirmed. In 2016, the U.S. Department of State offered a reward of up to 25 million U.S. dollars for information leading to his capture or death. "U.S. Special Operations Forces executed a dangerous and daring nighttime raid in northwestern Syria and accomplished their mission in grand style," Trump said. Trump noted in his remarks that no U.S. personnel were killed in the operation, and the U.S. military obtained "highly sensitive material and information" from the raid. In his remarks, Trump also expressed his gratitude to Russia, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Syrian Kurds, saying the mission could only have taken place with the help of other nations and people. | 
