Al-baghdadi is secretive and rarely seen in public. News of his death had spread several times before. How, then, could he be so sure of his hiding-place this time?
(Picture Source:Baidu)
In fact, more than one straw broke the camel's back. Two Iraqi security officials said they had made a breakthrough in tracking down al-baghdadi in February last year after a senior aide was captured by Turkey and handed over to Iraqi security forces. Mr. Essawi told Iraqi officials how he eluded capture over the years, saying that Mr. Al-baghdadi sometimes held meetings with subordinates on a moving minibus loaded with vegetables to hide his presence. "Savi provides involved in Baghdad's whereabouts and hiding valuable information, help Iraq more security agencies make up the missing pieces of puzzle," an Iraqi security officials said, "Mr Savi for a 5 in Syria and di meeting in Baghdad, including detailed information and their different meeting place." Mr. Essawi, who has a doctorate, is considered by Iraqi intelligence officials to be one of five members of al-baghdadi's entourage. He joined al-qaeda in 2006 and was captured by us forces in 2008, where he spent four years in prison. After joining the islamic state, al-essawi was put in charge by al-baghdadi, taking over command and selecting commanders. Mr. Essawi fled to Syria with his wife after the Iraqi government declared victory against the islamic state in December 2017. In addition to Mr. Essawi's information, the joint operation by the American, Turkish and Iraqi intelligence agencies was a "turning point" in the pursuit of Mr. Baghdadi. Iraqi intelligence officials say the capture began earlier this year with the capture of several senior islamic state leaders, including four iraqis and one Syrian. "They gave us all the places to meet with al-baghdadi in Syria." Last month, Iraqi Kurdish officials detained one of al-baghdadi's wives, as well as the nephew and wife of one of his closest aides. The three men provided information that led intelligence officers to ISIS hideouts in Iraq's western desert. The coordinates of al-baghdadi's secret hideout, among many of his belongings found here, point to a village in idlib province in northwest Syria. Surprisingly, the village is in an area controlled by al-baghdadi's enemies, al qaeda. The cia used satellites and drones to monitor the house for five months. Two days ago, al-baghdadi and his family left the compound and took a minibus to a nearby village, "the last time he was alive." Several media reports said al-baghdadi had been at the scene of his death for less than 48 hours.
US President Donald trump has authorized special forces to carry out a raid against ABU bakr al-baghdadi, the top leader of the islamic state (IS), the mirror reported. Al-baghdadi is reported to have been "killed during a us special forces raid in Syria".
Although al-baghdadi's death is regarded by the international community as a major progress in the fight against the islamic state, the extremist group has not been eliminated and the global counter-terrorism situation remains grim. French defense minister francois parry also questioned the importance of the U.S. operation. Parry said the raid on al-baghdadi only marked "an early 'retirement' for terrorists, not for the group". Former vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff James winnefield told CBS that it was inappropriate for trump to "massively humiliate" al-baghdadi after his death. Trump's expression was clearly tacky, rude and unpresidential, the report said.
While targeting the baghdadi hideout, delta force commandos began planning the raid. The us military is reported to have cancelled missions at least twice at the last minute. The final plan for the attack was completed in mid-october. After learning that al-baghdadi was "about to be moved", the us military decided that an immediate operation was needed and that if he was moved again, it would be difficult to track him down. So, within two or three days, the plan was finalized. US President Donald trump, vice President mike pence and several generals entered the situation room of the White House at 5 PM on October 26, 2019, and watched the live broadcast through the camera of an attack helicopter. It came four days after Mr. Trump gave the green light to the raid, while several other opportunities for the operation were called off at the last minute. Late Sunday night, a U.S. military helicopter formation consisting of black hawks took off from a military base near erbil, Iraq, and headed for a target about 500 miles away. The us has informed Moscow, Damascus and Ankara of "major events" that they would like to see happen. However, the United States did not say what the event was. It arrived at the target site after a flight of 1 hour and 10 minutes in the village of barissa in idlib province in northwest Syria. Al-baghdadi is believed to be hiding here. As helicopters approached their targets, they came under fire from militants on the ground. Helicopters and other warplanes began firing on a building to cover for the commandos. A 70-person assault team quickly surrounded baghdadi's house on the edge of the village. Fearing a trap in the front door, they blew a hole in the wall and then entered the building. Inside the compound, the two sides exchanged heavy gunfire. Baghdadi's two wives saw commandos rush in and try to detonate their suicide vests, but were killed immediately. During the chase, the commandos rescued 11 children, and some of the militants surrendered or were killed. Al-baghdadi, with his three children, ran into a blind alley and, knowing that it was a dead end, the special forces released dogs and approached al-baghdadi. Al-baghdadi screamed and cried when he was cornered. Finally, cornered, he detonated his vest, killing himself and three children, the tunnel collapsed, and the wounded dog was rescued. Fifteen minutes later, DNA tests on the remains in the rubble confirmed that it was al-baghdadi. Fifteen minutes later, Mr. Trump, who was nervously watching the killing live from the White House, received a message from the front line: "100% sure it was a Jackpot. To complete. "Jackpot" is the code name given to al-baghdadi. Bin laden was also given the code name "jackpot" in the 2011 hunt for him. The ground assault took two hours and the commandos returned to Iraq by helicopter gunship. After the commandos cleared, U.S. drone strikes on al-baghdadi's compound left him in ruins.
NBC also gave some details, with us officials saying the americans fired from the air and then landed on the ground to begin intelligence gathering. Forensic experts are now working on the case, and al-baghdadi is believed to be among the dead. The mirror said al-baghdadi blew up his suicide vest when he found he had no chance to escape. Two of his wives were killed in the crossfire. No American soldiers were killed or injured in the operation. The mirror cited trump's tweet two hours earlier. "Something very big just happened!" trump tweeted. However, trump did not provide further details in his tweet. White House spokesman hogan gidley said trump would make an "important statement" at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
