Senior officials at the Department of Defense released photographs and video from the Syrian raid that killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 30, 2019
"This was a true inter-agency effort, so I commend our partners across the U.S. government," Gen. Frank McKenzie said at a news conference late Wednesday afternoon.
"After Baghdadi's murder-suicide, our assault force cleared significant debris from the tunnel and secured Baghdadi's remains for DNA identity confirmation..."
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 30, 2019
- Gen Frank McKenzie CDR USCENTCOM pic.twitter.com/fNLtXcOMG4
McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command, said that when al-Baghdadi's capture at the hands of U.S. forces was imminent, the ISIS leader detonated a bomb, killing himself and two young children.
"...at the compound, fighters from two locations in the vicinity of the compound began firing on U.S. aircraft participating in the assault."
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 30, 2019
- Gen Frank McKenzie CDR USCENTCOM pic.twitter.com/SkrtHNDs7w