The leader of the Islamic State group, ISIS, was killed during an overnight raid, carried out by U.S. special forces in Syria. The mission was executed on the evening of February 2 and announced to the public by President Joe Biden in the early morning of February 3.
The attack took place at a two-story building in the town of Atmeh near the Turkey-Syria border. The raid targeted Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi in the largest high profile raid since 2019 of ISIS’ previous leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Al-Qurayshi had previously been a senior member of ISIS’ previous organization, al-Qaeda. He rose through the ranks of the terror group being named its leader in October of 2019.
Biden stated that al-Qurayshi died by exploding a bomb that in the end, ended up killing himself and members of his family, including women and children.
The President elaborated in a statement saying “As our troops approached to capture the terrorist, and in a final act of desperate cowardice he chose to blow himself up rather than face justice for the crimes he has committed.”
President Biden did in an effort try to minimize civilian casualties, ordering an air assault on the compound rather than an airstrike. Pentagon press secretary, John Kirby, said U.S. forces were able to evacuate 10 people from the building before the self-induced explosion. A man, a woman and four children from the first floor and four children from the second floor were among the evacuees.
Despite Biden’s efforts “to take every precaution possible to minimize civilian casualties,” authorities on the ground did however report 13 civilian casualties. Six children and four women being among them. US officials however report that the civilian casualties were not at the hands of the U.S. military, but the explosion caused by al-Qurayshi.
“Thanks to the bravery of our troops, this horrible terrorist leader is no more. Our forces carried out the operation with their signature preparation and precision,” Biden said, adding that all U.S. service members involved were returned safely.
The Pentagon confirmed the U.S. special operation a “successful”, but however provided few other details.
What we do know from US officials is that the raid has been planned for months, and that Biden was first briefed on the intelligence and potential operation in as early as last December.
“The president was regularly updated by his national security team on the planning details of this operation to include a briefing in the Oval Office earlier this week,” an official said.
Biden, who approved the operation on Tuesday, along with Vice President Kamala Harris and senior national security aides monitored a live feed of the operation from the White House Situation Room.
President Joe Biden delivered remarks early Feb. 3, from the White House, and gave details to the nation about the raid that killed the leader of the militant group.
“Last night, operating on my orders, the United States military forces successfully removed in a major terrorist threat to the world, the global leader of ISIS,” Biden said from the Roosevelt Room. “Thanks to the bravery of our troops, this horrible terrorist leader is no more.” he later added.
He continues on to say “I’m grateful for the immense courage and skill and determination of our U.S. forces who skillfully executed this incredibly challenging mission,”. – “The members of our military are the solid steel backbone of this nation, ready to fly into danger at a moment’s notice to keep our country and the American people safe, as well as our allies.”
The operation which has been marked as a military success for the United States, comes after a time of recent foreign policy setbacks. One of them being the Afghanistan withdrawal that had left allies and opponents of the US wondering if the global power’s grip on global power was weakening.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin wrote in a statement that “The fight against ISIS continues. Their leader may be gone, but their twisted ideology and their intent to kill, maim and terrorize still threaten our national security and the lives of countless innocents.”
To see Biden‘s official White House statement click here.