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| Visual guide to the raid that killed Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi | Visual guide to the raid that killed Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The US began to receive intelligence on the whereabouts of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi about a month ago, according to Donald Trump. Intelligence officials were able to scope out his exact location – near the village of Barisha in north-west Syria – two weeks ago, and Trump was made aware of the planned raid at the end of last week. | |
| Moments after a team including the US president gathered in the White House situation room at about 5pm ET (11pm in Syria) on Saturday, eight helicopters – mostly twin-rotor CH-47s – took off from an airbase in northern Iraq. | Moments after a team including the US president gathered in the White House situation room at about 5pm ET (11pm in Syria) on Saturday, eight helicopters – mostly twin-rotor CH-47s – took off from an airbase in northern Iraq. |
| US officials have not confirmed exactly where the aircraft took off from, but most reports say it was Erbil. The aircraft apparently flew over Turkey and territory controlled by the Russian military. | US officials have not confirmed exactly where the aircraft took off from, but most reports say it was Erbil. The aircraft apparently flew over Turkey and territory controlled by the Russian military. |
| They reached their intended target, a small compound outside Barisha in Syria’s Idlib province, three miles (5km) south of the Turkish border, about an hour and 10 minutes after takeoff. The on-the-ground operation was supported by military aircraft and ships, Trump said. The operatives – commandos with the Delta Force – brought with them military dogs and a military robot. | |
| Villagers in Barisha said there was shooting from helicopters for 30 minutes before troops became active on the ground. They said the helicopters fired missiles at two houses, flattening one. | Villagers in Barisha said there was shooting from helicopters for 30 minutes before troops became active on the ground. They said the helicopters fired missiles at two houses, flattening one. |
| Believing the main compound door to be booby-trapped, the soldiers entered by blasting through the wall. | Believing the main compound door to be booby-trapped, the soldiers entered by blasting through the wall. |
| Baghdadi fled into a network of underground bunkers and tunnels that snaked through the compound, wearing a suicide vest and dragging along three of his children. | Baghdadi fled into a network of underground bunkers and tunnels that snaked through the compound, wearing a suicide vest and dragging along three of his children. |
| As a military robot crept towards him and a dog was dispatched to subdue him, Baghdadi was confronted by a dead end. He ignited his suicide vest, killing himself and his children and causing the tunnel to collapse, according to Trump. The dog was injured and retrieved by the commandos. | As a military robot crept towards him and a dog was dispatched to subdue him, Baghdadi was confronted by a dead end. He ignited his suicide vest, killing himself and his children and causing the tunnel to collapse, according to Trump. The dog was injured and retrieved by the commandos. |
| To get to his remains, troops had to dig through debris. Lab technicians conducted an on-site DNA test and within 15 minutes of his death, they positively identified him. | To get to his remains, troops had to dig through debris. Lab technicians conducted an on-site DNA test and within 15 minutes of his death, they positively identified him. |
| Trump said US troops remained in the compound for about two hours after Baghdadi’s death and recovered highly sensitive material about Islamic State, including information about its future plans. | Trump said US troops remained in the compound for about two hours after Baghdadi’s death and recovered highly sensitive material about Islamic State, including information about its future plans. |
| After the troops retreated, US fighter jets fired six rockets at the house, levelling it. | After the troops retreated, US fighter jets fired six rockets at the house, levelling it. |
| Just before 3.30am Syrian time, the fleet of choppers took off for the return journey to Iraq. | Just before 3.30am Syrian time, the fleet of choppers took off for the return journey to Iraq. |
| The US national security adviser, Robert O’Brien, said Baghdadi’s remains would probably be disposed of at sea. | The US national security adviser, Robert O’Brien, said Baghdadi’s remains would probably be disposed of at sea. |
| Islamic State | Islamic State |
| US military | US military |
| Syria | Syria |
| Middle East and North Africa | Middle East and North Africa |
| features | features |
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