The US President Donald Trump has announced that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed during a US military raid on Saturday northwest Syria.
“Al-Baghdadi has been killed… in a daring nighttime raid,” Trump confirmed this in a live address from the White House, reported by RT.
Trump boasted that the IS leader met his end “crying and screaming” due to being terrified by Americans might and that the US troops involved in the elimination of the terrorist “accomplished the mission in grand style.”
He died like a dog, like a coward. The world now is a much safer place.
According to Trump in the live address, Al-Baghdadi escaped to a tunnel dug under his hideout and took three of his young children. He was chased by the dogs and when he reached the dead end the terrorist detonated the suicide vest he was wearing.
The IS leader and his children died on site, Trump confirmed, saying the body of the notorious militant “was mutilated”, but the tests allowed to identify him.
The ICIR had earlier published a report on the uncertainty of his death before the confirmation from the US President.
Several reports had it that the Islamic State leader’s whereabouts were unknown for years. He made public appearances only a handful of times since founding his “worldwide caliphate” in 2014.
However, there have been previous reports of al-Baghdadi’s death, but none were confirmed.
Abeeb Alawiye formerly works with The ICIR as a Reporter/Social Media officer. Now work as a Senior Journalist with BBC News Yoruba. You can shoot him an email via Abeeb.alawiye@bbc.co.uk or follow him on Twitter @habsonfloww