https://thehill.com/policy/defense/468227-pentagon-releases-images-of-al-baghdadi-raid
Pentagon releases images of al-Baghdadi raid
By Ellen Mitchell - 10/30/19 06:22 PM EDT
The Pentagon on Wednesday released new images and videos of the weekend raid that killed the ISIS head Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, adding to the picture of the terrorist leader’s final moments.
Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command, said the mission, which he ordered to commence from Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Fla., began around 9 a.m. EST on Saturday.
Offering new details of the raid, McKenzie spoke as reporters at the Pentagon were shown footage of the special operations team assaulting al-Baghdadi’s compound and the strikes on the facility afterward.
A video shows the assault force’s arrival at the compound — described as an area not traditionally operated in by U.S. forces and roughly an hour flight from the U.S. staging base in Syria.
Fighters from two locations can be seen gathering to fire on U.S. aircraft. Though the individuals were not assessed to be affiliated with al-Baghdadi, “they demonstrated a hostile intent against U.S. forces and were killed by two airstrikes from supporting helicopters,” McKenzie said as the strike was shown.
The assault force can then be seen closing in on the compound, where they first removed the nonhostile inhabitants that surrendered, which included 11 children.
“Despite the violent nature of the raid and the high-profile nature of this assault, every effort was made to avoid civilian casualties and to protect the children that we suspected would be at the compound,” McKenzie said.
Pentagon releases images of al-Baghdadi raid
By Ellen Mitchell - 10/30/19 06:22 PM EDT
The Pentagon on Wednesday released new images and videos of the weekend raid that killed the ISIS head Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, adding to the picture of the terrorist leader’s final moments.
Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command, said the mission, which he ordered to commence from Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Fla., began around 9 a.m. EST on Saturday.
Offering new details of the raid, McKenzie spoke as reporters at the Pentagon were shown footage of the special operations team assaulting al-Baghdadi’s compound and the strikes on the facility afterward.
A video shows the assault force’s arrival at the compound — described as an area not traditionally operated in by U.S. forces and roughly an hour flight from the U.S. staging base in Syria.
Fighters from two locations can be seen gathering to fire on U.S. aircraft. Though the individuals were not assessed to be affiliated with al-Baghdadi, “they demonstrated a hostile intent against U.S. forces and were killed by two airstrikes from supporting helicopters,” McKenzie said as the strike was shown.
The assault force can then be seen closing in on the compound, where they first removed the nonhostile inhabitants that surrendered, which included 11 children.
“Despite the violent nature of the raid and the high-profile nature of this assault, every effort was made to avoid civilian casualties and to protect the children that we suspected would be at the compound,” McKenzie said.
