This archive report was first published on 27 October 2019.
On October 27, 2019, US President Donald Trump announced the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, in a daring military operation.
Trump hailed the operation as a demonstration of America's commitment to defeating terrorist organizations, saying, 'Our reach is very long.' He also mentioned the recent killing of Hamza bin Laden, the son of Osama bin Laden, who was seen as a potential heir to Al Qaeda.
Baghdadi had been on the run for many years, but Trump's administration ultimately tracked him down and eliminated his caliphate in March 2019. The operation to kill Baghdadi was a reminder that the US will continue to pursue remaining ISIS terrorists and other terrorist organizations.
Trump described Baghdadi as a 'sick and depraved man' who was responsible for the brutal murder of many innocent people, including Americans James Foley, Steven Sotloff, Peter Kassig, and Kayla Mueller. He also mentioned the publicized murder of a Jordanian pilot and the execution of Christians in Libya and Egypt.
Baghdadi's death marked the end of his reign of terror, and Trump praised the military operation that led to his demise, saying it was 'impeccable' and could only have been achieved with the help of other nations and people.
