(Image source from: www.france24.com)
Pentagon finally released videos and photos of the US Special Forces raid on October 30th, 2019 that resulted in the death of the ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Among some of the images shared were some hazy and black and white footage of the US force soldiers approaching the high walled compound on their foot which was located in Syria. Baghdadi was holed up there, hiding away.
"...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
In addition to that, Pentagon also released some footage of the air strikes on the group of the present unknown fighters present in the ground. Even they retaliated by open firing on the helicopters of the US forces.
Some before and after pictures were released of the compound of the Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi before and after the attack was also released. The same was done following the raid that was conducted by the US troops on October 26th, 2019.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 30, 2019
In addition to that, Gen Frank McKenzie (CDR USCENTCOM) clarified in an interview with the reporters at Pentagon highlighting some important and new information that people didn’t have much idea of.
According to McKenzie, there were two children who were killed, unlike three as President Trump mentioned previously. The same happened in an event when Baghdadi blew himself up with a suicide bomb vest in a tunnel as he tried to avoid the US troops. The children killed in the incident were reported to be under 12 years old.
When asked about the remark of “crying and whimpering” as President Trump mentioned, McKenzie stated saying, “About Baghdadi’s last moments, I could tell you this. He crawled into a hole with two small children and blew himself up while his people stayed on the ground.”
He further added saying that Baghdadi might have fired some shots to fight back in the last moments of his life. Along with Baghdadi and the two children, four other women and one man were killed on the compound during the raid.
McKenzie said that the women were acting in a very threatening manner while wearing suicide vests. There have been deaths of some of the unknown fighters from around when they tried to open fire on the US helicopters.
One of the videos released by Pentagon also highlighted the airstrikes that was done on a group of people include over dozen of people.
While asked about the two men who have been captured during the raid, McKenzie avoided commenting on the situation or the two individuals stating that they have collected substantial amount of electronics as well as documents during the raid.
He further clarified that Baghdadi was confirmed to be dead by the comparison of the DNA which has been in the files during his 2004 detention in the Iraqi prison. McKenzie also confirmed stating that the remains of Baghdadi’s body has been flown back to the staging base for the raid for further identification.
Following the identification, his body was buried at sea within 24 hours following the laws of the armed conflict. McKenzie also praised the military dog who bravely pursued Baghdadi into the tunnel. He was a four year old veteran who has been part of 50 combat missions. Even President Trump praised the bravery of the dog.
McKenzie was very adamant stating that even with the death of Baghdadi, ISIS still remains a threat and a factor of danger to the world. He said that there are no illusions that the death of Baghdadi will eradicate the entire base of terrorists. They will remain and there are chances of them retaliating even worse now that they don’t have a leader.
-Somapika Dutta
