The US military carried out a raid last night that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Footage filmed by locals near the small town of Barisha in north-west Syria shows the moment US forces struck the location where Baghdadi was hiding. In the video, helicopters can be heard overhead before a huge explosion hits a building.
US President Donald Trump used a White House address to reveal that the US had brought the “world’s greatest terrorist leader to justice”.
He claimed that Baghdadi died “whimpering and crying and screaming” after running into a dead-end tunnel.
President Trump said while eleven young children were safely moved out of the house, al-Baghdadi brought three of his young children with him as he tried to escape down the tunnel.
He then ignited a suicide vest, which also killed his three children.
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It is thought that the US special forces blew up the house where al-Baghdadi was found to eliminate the possibility of the site becoming a shrine to the leader.
Last night, US President Donald Trump sparked speculation after tweeting: “Something very big has just happened!”
The raid, which took place after midnight on Saturday, is thought to have involved helicopters, warplanes and a ground clash.
The commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, said earlier today that a “historic, successful operation” had resulted from “joint intelligence work” with the US.
Al-Baghdadi has been described as the world’s most wanted man.
The ISIS leader was designated as a “terrorist” in October 2011, with a huge £19.5million reward for information leading to his capture or death.
Earlier this year, ISIS issued a 30-minute audio message purporting to come from al-Baghdadi, in which he said operations were taking place daily.
He had called on supporters to free women jailed in camps in Iraq and Syria over their alleged links to his group.