Skip to main content

US set for risky IS mission with leader’s death in Syria

Saturday’s raid that took the life of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi offered a preview of what’s to come for the slimmed-down, US-led fight against IS, officials and experts say, which is now set to focus extensively on targeting the group’s leaders from larger US bases in Iraq and American units in Syria.
IDLIB, SYRIA - NOVEMBER 28: A drone photo shows an aerial view of operation area where Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed in, on October 28, 2019 in northwestern Syria in Idlib, Syria . A U.S. raid that allegedly killed Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in northwestern Syria lasted for some four hours, according to local sources. The operation, in which helicopters, drones, and ground units were used, took place a few kilometers away from the Tourlaha camp, where displaced civilians have taken shelter

The Donald Trump administration touted the US raid that took the life of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as “flawless” in execution, as elite Delta Force operators descending from Chinook helicopters trapped the Islamic State (IS) leader in his northwest Syria compound.

But Saturday’s raid, which Trump himself described as “dangerous and daring,” also offered a preview of what’s to come for the slimmed-down, American-led fight against IS, which is now set to focus extensively on targeting the group’s leaders from larger US bases in Iraq and using American units in Syria.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.