Death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
On 26–27 October 2019, the United States conducted a military operation code named Operation Kayla Mueller that resulted in the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the then-leader and self-proclaimed caliph of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization. The operation took place in the outskirts of Barisha, Idlib Governorate, Syria. According to General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) commander who oversaw the operation, Baghdadi killed himself along with two children when he detonated a suicide belt while seeking to evade U.S. forces during the raid.
Death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (Operation Kayla Mueller) | |||||||
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Part of the Syrian civil war, the American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war (Operation Inherent Resolve), the international military intervention against the Islamic State, and the Global War on Terrorism | |||||||
Baghdadi's compound, before and after the U.S. special operations raid, 26–27 October 2019 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United States |
Islamic State Hurras al-Din | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Donald Trump Mark Esper Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. Mark A. Milley |
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi † Abu Muhammad al-Halabi † | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) 75th Ranger Regiment | Islamic State military | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
~100 JSOC operators 8 helicopters Unknown number of military working dogs and robots | Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
2 soldiers and 1 dog injured |
16–21 killed
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2 children died after Baghdadi detonated his vest 2 civilians killed and one injured by U.S. airstrikes | |||||||
Barisha Location of Barisha in Syria |
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Business and personal 45th President of the United States Tenure Impeachments Prosecutions Interactions involving Russia |
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The U.S. operation was named for Kayla Mueller, an American aid worker who had been captured by and died whilst in the custody of the Islamic State (IS).