Baghdadi raid vid shows US Special Forces storming compound in mission that killed ISIS leader and seven others
THIS is the moment US Special Forces stormed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s lair in a mission that killed the ISIS leader and seven others.
The Pentagon today released video footage of the raid taken moments before Baghdadi blew himself up in a tunnel to avoid capture.
Commander of US Central Command, General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., gave a play-by-play of the assault on the isolated compound in northern Syria.
Eight US military helicopters flew over territory controlled by Russian and Syrian forces before landing at the ISIS hideout on Saturday.
A large crew of elite troops ran out of the helicopters and blew holes into the sides of the building – fearing it may have been booby-trapped.
They were immediately fired upon by jihadi fighters hiding in two locations in the compound.
“With the assault force surrounding the compound, we repeatedly urged those inside to come out peacefully,” General McKenzie Jr. said.
Hearing the soldiers enter his compound, a startled Baghdadi fled into a network of underground bunkers and tunnels.
The stout, bearded militant leader wore a suicide vest and dragged along two children as he ran from the American troops.
He ignited his vest, killing himself and the two kids – who were under the age of 12.
“He crawled into a hole with two small children and blew himself up while his people stayed on the ground,” the general said.
The US had previously said that three children were killed.
Overall during the raid, US forces killed six ISIS terrorists – four women and another man aside from Baghdadi.
The death toll from the mission was eight including the two children. There were no US casualties.
General McKenzie Jr. said: “I want to make it clear that despite the high-pressure and high-profile nature of this assault that every effort was made to avoid civilian casualties and to protect children we suspected would be in the compound.”
The US President previously told how the ISIS chief – who became the world’s most wanted man – died “whimpering…like a dog”.
A test later verified the dead fighter was Baghdadi, after DNA was compared to a sample taken from him in 2004.
He was later buried at sea, within 24 hours of his death.
A third video at the press conference depicted the drone strike that obliterated Baghdadi’s compound afterwards – to stop it becoming a shrine to the dead IS leader.
“It looks pretty much like a parking lot with large potholes right now,” the general said.
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The US is on high alert for possible “retribution attacks” by ISIS extremists following the raid.
“It will take them some time to re-establish someone to lead the organization, and during that period of time their actions may be a little bit disjointed,” the general said.
“They will be dangerous. We suspect they will try some form of retribution attack, and we are postured and prepared for that.”