This archive report was first published on 27 October 2019.
On a clear blue Sunday morning, the village of Barisha in Idlib province was left reeling from a US special operation that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Abu Ahmad, a 55-year-old resident, was just a few dozen metres away when the operation unfolded, with gunfire ringing out as warplanes whooshed overhead.
"We have shared nothing with this man except greetings," Abu Ahmad said of his mysterious neighbour, who claimed to be a merchant from the province of Aleppo.
According to Abu Ahmad, his neighbour, Abu Mohammad, was a discreet figure who would leave early in the morning and return late at night, never inviting anyone over or getting familiar with the inhabitants.
Another resident, Abdel Hameed, rushed to the scene of the attack after hearing helicopters, gunfire, and explosions. He described the targeted house as being completely flattened into light grey rubble.
Abdel Hameed also reported that there were six unidentified bodies inside the house and two others inside a vehicle that was coincidently passing through the area at the time of the attack.
However, the body of Abu Mohammad was not left among the corpses, and some residents believe he was taken along with another person.
As the area was cordoned off by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadist alliance that dominates most of Idlib, journalists were briefly allowed to film at the site.
