Trump describes the death of Isis leader Baghdadi in colourful detail

The president has been heavily criticised for his military actions in Syria

Islamic State leader  died after running into a tunnel and detonating a suicide vest, President Donald Trump announced on Sunday. He died during a raid conducted by US special forces in northwest Syria, in a major blow to the jihadist group.

Test results from the aftermath of the raid had positively identified Baghdadi, he said.

At home, the president has been heavily criticised for his military actions in Syria.

Mr Trump used his own colourful language to describe Bahdadi’s death at the hands of US forces.

“He was a sick and depraved man and now he’s gone,” Mr Trump said, during a press conference where he described the attack.

Eight helicopters

Mr Trump said “many” of Baghdadi’s people were killed, and added that when he blew himself up, Baghdadi also killed three children.

A burnt vehicle near the site where a helicopter gunfire reportedly killed nine people in the northwestern Syrian village of Barisha (Photo: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP/Getty Images)

During the press conference, Mr Trump described Baghdadi’s last moments as “whimpering and crying and screaming all the way”, and described the moment of his attack.

He said that Baghdadi had been under surveillance for several weeks and had attacked using eight helicopters, avoiding the compound’s front door because they knew it was booby-trapped.

During the address, Mr Trump confirmed that the United States had suffered no personal losses, and he thanked Russia, Turkey, Syria and Iraq for their support.

Baghdadi had long been sought by the United States as head of a jihadist group that at one point controlled large areas of Syria and Iraq, where it declared a caliphate.

Islamic State has carried out atrocities against religious minorities and attacks on five continents in the name of a version of an ultra-fanatic Islam that horrified mainstream Muslims.

The only casualty was a US dog injured in the operation. “The canine, a beautiful dog, a talented dog, was injured and brought back,” Mr Trump told reporters.He has had a $25m bounty on his head since 2016.

Al Baghdadi had allegedly been “killed” and seriously maimed several times over the past few years. In 2015 rumours circulated that he had been killed in an airstrike, while in 2016 there were claims by Middle Eastern media that Al Baghdadi had been killed in different airstrikes.

Recently, ISIS had lost much of its territory, but rumours had been circulating of an ISIS resurgence. In recent years the group had lost most of its territory. Security experts believe Islamic State remains a threat through clandestine operations or attacks.

Baghdadi’s last moments

President Donald Trump in the Situation Room of the White House (Photo: Shealah Craighead/The White House via Getty Images)

“The thug who tried so hard to intimidate others spent his last moments in utter fear, panic and dread, terrified of the American forces coming down on him,” Mr Trump said.


Mr Trump had faced withering criticism from fellow Republicans and Democrats for announcing a withdrawal of US troops from northeastern Syria earlier this month, which permitted Turkey to attack America’s Kurdish allies as it sought to set up a “safe zone”.


James Foley’s mother Diane said: “I am grateful to our President and brave troops for finding Isis leader Al-Baghdadi.  I hope this will hinder the resurgence of terror groups and pray that captured Isis fighters will be brought to trial and held accountable.”

Journalist Foley was killed by ISIS in Al Raqqah in 2014.

Turkey’s pride

Global reaction has been positive. A senior aide to President Tayyip Erdogan, Fahrettin Altun said: “Turkey was proud to help the United States, our NATO ally, bring a notorious terrorist to justice … We remember today Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s civilian victims and our military heroes, who lost their lives to protect the world from Daesh (Islamic State) terrorists. Turkey, which has been a bulwark against terrorism, will continue to work closely with the United States and others to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It is time to join forces and defeat all terrorist groups operating in the region without further delay.”

Israel also congratulated Mr Trump. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “I would like to congratulate President Trump on the impressive achievement that led to the assassination of the head of (Islamic State) al-Baghdadi. This reflects our shared determination, of the United States of America and of all free countries, to fight terror organisations and terrorist states. This achievement is an important milestone, but the campaign is still ahead of us.”

The President thanked Russia for its support in the raid on Al Baghdadi in his press conference. However, the Guardian reported that Russia denied any involvement.  “We are unaware of any alleged assistance to the flying of US aviation into the airspace of the Idlib de-escalation zone during this operation,” major-general Igor Konashenkov said. Why was Al Baghdadi so notorious?The current leader of ISIS, Al Baghdadi rose to prominence as a leader of Al Queada. In June 2014, he declared himself to be the Caliph, or the person who would unite the global Muslim community.

Thousands of foreign fighters travelled to Syria to join forces with him after this declaration, despite it being condemned by international Muslim clerics. As well as being the leader of ISIS, he has also claimed to be related to the prophet Muhammad. His death should end ISIS’s legitimacy.

Throughout ISIS’ rule, they have massacred dozens of people from villages and towns across Syria, raped women and razed buildings to the ground. They have also destroyed ancient sites of global importance like Palmyrah and destroyed priceless antiquities. ISIS executed, beheaded and crucified those it deemed worked against them.

Additional reporting from agency wires