U.S. releases first video, images of Baghdadi raid

US Special Forces move toward the compound where Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was hiding

The pentagon released video and photos on Wednesday of the U.S special forces raid in which ISIL's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed. President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died during an overnight raid carried out by the U.S. military in northwest Syria.

The aerial video showed U.S. special operations forces closing in on the compound and U.S. aircraft firing on militants nearby.

The compound was razed by U.S. munitions after the raid, leaving it looking like "a parking lot with large potholes," said Marine Corps General Kenneth McKenzie, commander of US Central Command. 

McKenzie also revealed the details of the raid, saying that two children were killed when Baghdadi blew himself up with a suicide vest in a tunnel as he tried to escape
 U.S. troops.

"...at the compound, fighters from two locations in the vicinity of the compound began firing on U.S. aircraft participating in the assault."
- Gen Frank McKenzie CDR USCENTCOM pic.twitter.com/SkrtHNDs7w

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 30, 2019

Source: AFP