Islamic State leader Baghdadi reportedly killed by U.S. forces
Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi has been killed in a U.S. military operation, according to sources in Syria, Iraq and Iran, as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to make a "major statement" later on Sunday (October 27).
Iraqi state television aired footage of what it said was the raid - nighttime footage of an explosion and the daytime aftermath, a crater in the ground and torn blood-stained clothes.
The offensive reportedly took place after midnight in Syria's northwestern Idlib province.
A commander of one of the militant factions there said it involved helicopters, warplanes and a ground clash in the village of Brisha near the Turkish border, and that Baghdadi was believed to have been killed.
Two Iraqi security sources and two Iranian officials said they had received confirmation from inside Syria that the IS leader had been killed.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Baghdadi was targeted in an overnight raid but was unable to say whether the operation was successful.
Trump hinted that something was afoot late on Saturday (October 26) tweeting: "something very big has just happened".
He's faced withering criticism for his withdrawal of U.S. troops from northeastern Syria which allowed Turkey to attack America's Kurdish allies.
Many critics had expressed concerns that the withdrawal could lead the Islamic State militancy to regain strength, but an announcement about Baghdadi's death could help blunt those worries.
On Sunday, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said "a successful, historic operation" was the result of "joint intelligence work" with the United States.
Iraqi intelligence agencies are also said to have helped pinpoint Baghdadi's location.
