Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic terror group, fled down a dead-end tunnel as special forces surrounded the compound, and ultimately detonated an explosive vest killing himself and several children, U.S. authorities said.
The owner of the compound was Abu Muhammad al Halabi, according to documents Moussa obtained.
From February, he paid a monthly internet fee of roughly $8.
The connection was used frequently, and was used for about 90 minutes on the last full day before the raid, which took place shortly after midnight. Inhabitants at the compound were online from February for 90 days and 20 hours.
The informant also described the tunnels under the compound, who else was living there, and that he planned to move soon, all of which supported the decision to launch the raid.
“Baghdadi’s demise demonstrates America’s relentless pursuit of terrorist leaders,” Trump said. “He was a sick and depraved man, and now he’s gone.”
During the assault, Trump stated al-Baghdadi was “whimpering and crying and screaming all the way.”
“Baghdadi and the thugs who follow him were responsible for some of the most brutal atrocities of our time,” Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told reporters at a briefing. “His death marks a devastating blow for the remnants of ISIS, who are now deprived of their inspirational leader, following the destruction of their physical caliphate earlier this year.”
