In a cryptic tweet on October 27 at 00:23 UTC, President Trump wrote
"Something very big has just happened!"
This sent the "twittersphere" into speculation overdrive. As usual within minutes, news reporters started posting bits of news about US raid on ISIS chief in Syria. And the white house put out a formal statement announcing that President Trump would be giving a televised address Sunday.
In the address, President Trump described the operation in some colorful detail. The operation started around 11 pm Syria local time(21:00 UTC) Saturday Oct. 26. From various secret locations in the middle east, eight helicopters carrying American special forces including the Delta Force, flew 70 minutes toward the compound hosting terrorist leader Baghdadi in Barisha, Idlib province of Syria. Some other US ships and aircraft also participated in the operation. They flew over "very very dangerous territory" and were met with some local sporadic gunfire. The threat was promptly eliminated.
Trump told reporters: "We flew very, very low and very, very fast. It was a very dangerous part of the mission. Getting in and getting out, too. Equal. We wanted an identical -- we took an identical route."
On arriving at the compound, US forces breached a wall, avoiding a booby trapped entrance. And according to Trump, that's when "all hell broke loose." In the ensuing gun battle, US forces killed "a large number" of ISIS fighters. There were only "two minor casualties, two minor injuries, to our soldiers," according to US defense secretary Esper. Two of Baghdadi's wives were killed, their suicide vests unexploded. Two ISIS fighters and 11 children were taken alive.
As US forces and the hero dogs closed in on him, the terrorist leader Baghdadi "whimpering and screaming" too refuge with three of his children in a "dead end" tunnel. Baghdadi blew himself up along with his three children as US forces close in on the tunnel.
Trump told reporters: "He reached the end of the tunnel, as our dogs chased him down. He ignited his vest, killing himself and the three children. His body was mutilated by the blast. The tunnel had caved in on it in addition." DNA tests carried out "about 15 minutes after he was killed" confirmed Baghdadi's identity. US forces also obtained "highly sensitive material and information from the raid, much having to do with ISIS -- origins, future plans, things that we very much want," according to President Trump.
According to Secretary Esper, "the raid was successful. We pulled our troops out. We had two minor casualties, two minor injuries, to our soldiers but a very successful, flawless raid,"
President Trump received bipartisan praise and congratulatory messages from US allies around the world. Some left-wing main stream media talking heads and opposition democrats criticized the President and asserted that the operation was "in spite of the President" not because of his decisive leadership.