Derek Jambor ’20, News Editor
President Donald Trump announced Sunday morning in a televised address at the White House that the “world’s number one terrorist leader” is dead. ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi “blew himself up” when surrounded by United States Military forces who conducted a stealthy, two hour raid on his compound in northern Syria. There were zero U.S. military casualties.
“Last night was a great night for the United States and for the world. A brutal killer, one who has caused so much hardship and death, has violently been eliminated,” Trump added.
Baghdadi’s death marks the end of a year-long hunt to find one of the most wanted terrorists in the world and the man who was responsible for more than 1.2 million casualties throughout the world. Baghdadi’s death was the most significant announcement of a terror leader since al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had been killed in his compound by the United States Navy SEALS back in May 2011 in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
President Trump previewed the news on Twitter the night before and said, “Something very big just happened!” President Trump did not hold back when it came to describing what had occurred during the raid. He said, “His body was mutilated by the blast” and described his emotions seconds before his death, saying he was “whimpering and crying and screaming all the way.” The success of this raid shows that the United States is not backing down against ISIS even after all the traumatic events they have partaken in the past 20 years. Senior Lukas Montalvo said “It is a blessing that he is gone. Only him and Bin-Laden have done so much damage to the world these past 20 years. It is going be safer a place to live now that he’s gone.”
The United States Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said, “This is a devastating blow. He is not just their leader, he is their creator. He has inspired many to join him in his race to inquire the Middle East and brutally murdered as many people as he can.” There have been videos on the internet of innocent people being tortured and killed. He has raided cities and he completely controlled the country of Syria. Many members of the organization are assumed to have stepped down since his death including his son Huthafia al-Badri. This will make the fight against ISIS much more favorable for the United States to win.
With the death of the horrific leader Abu Bakr al-Baghadadi, the United States can now celebrate a victory knowing that one of the world’s worst is now buried six feet under ground. It is unclear on whether the organization ISIS will introduce itself to the world and if they will promote a new leader, but for the time being, the world should be filled with gratitude knowing that his spirit is gone.
Photo courtesy of Associated Press
Lyon Life 