Islamic State leader targeted by U.S. forces; Trump plans 'major' statement
ARK News: The U.S. military conducted an operation against elusive Islamic State leader Abu Baker al-Baghdadi on Saturday, a U.S. official said, as U.S. President Donald Trump prepared to make a “major statement” at the White House on Sunday morning.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, was unable to say whether the operation against Baghdadi was successful.
Newsweek said it had been told by a U.S. Army official briefed on the raid that Baghdadi was dead. It said the operation took place in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province and was carried out by special operations forces after receiving actionable intelligence.
According to CNN, tests are underway to formally confirm the death of the leader of the jihadist group responsible for multiple bloody attacks around the world. According to an official quoted by ABC, he allegedly blew his jacket loaded with explosives to commit suicide.
The official, speaking to Reuters, did not disclose details of the operation and other U.S. officials contacted by Reuters declined to comment. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
White House spokesman Hogan Gidley announced late on Saturday that Trump would make a “major statement” at 9 a.m. on Sunday.
Iran was informed of IS leader Baghdadi's death - Iranian officials tell Reuters
Gidley gave no further details as to the topic of Trump’s statement.
The president gave an indication that something was afoot earlier on Saturday night when he tweeted without explanation, “Something very big has just happened!”
Trump has been frustrated by the U.S. news media’s heavy focus on the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry, which he calls an illegitimate witch hunt.
He has also faced withering criticism from both Republicans and Democrats alike for his U.S. troop withdrawal from northeastern Syria, which permitted Turkey to attack America’s Kurdish allies.
Many critics of Trump’s Syria pullout have expressed worries that it would lead the Islamic State militancy to regain strength and pose a threat to U.S. interests. An announcement about Baghdadi’s death could help blunt those concerns.
If the US military operation has been successful, it would be the largest against a top jihadist leader since the death on May 2, 2011, of Osama Bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda killed by the special forces Americans in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Source: Reuters
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