Pentagon releases video of raid on ISIS leader al-Baghdadi's compound
BREAKING NEWS: Pentagon releases incredible footage of Abu al-Baghdadi raid that shows Delta Force commandos storming his compound and obliterated it in a bombing raid
- Marine Corps General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr released the video on Wednesday
- Shows aerial view of Delta Force raid that led to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s death
- Depicts special forces breaching the compound and engaging with ISIS fighters
The Pentagon has released footage showing the raid that resulted in the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Marine Corps General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr, commander of U.S. Central Command, released the footage at a press conference on Wednesday at the Pentagon.
McKenzie was the operational commander of the Delta Force raid, which took place on Saturday in northwest Syria, and resulted in the death of Baghdadi after the terror leader detonated a suicide vest to avoid capture.
The general clarified that Baghdadi killed two of his own young children in the blast, not three as the breach force initially believed. McKenzie said both children were thought to be under the age of 12.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s compound is seen prior to the assault in video released Wednesday
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died on Saturday in the Delta Force raid, after retreating to a tunnel and detonating a suicide vest. New footage shows the US raid on his compound
‘Baghdadi was the subject of an intense inter-agency effort to bring him to justice, and that effort significantly advanced recently as we closed in on his whereabouts,’ McKenzie said in a statement.
‘As it became clear that we had gained fleeting and actionable intelligence on his hideout, we developed an execution level plan designed to capture or kill him and started preparing a special operations team for the mission,’ he continued.
The first video released on Wednesday depicts the raid force coming under fire from combatants on the ground as they approached the compound.
McKenzie said that the ground combatants were not believed to be ISIS fighters, but nevertheless presented a threat to the raid team, which responded with overwhelming firepower from the assault helicopters.
The video shows the ground combatants scattering as the return fire lights up the ground around them.
Enemy combatants are seen firing on the helicopter assault force from the ground, before they are obliterated by return fire from the aircraft
U.S. forces respond with overwhelming force when they come under fire
The next video shows U.S. Delta Forces on the ground, approaching Baghdadi’s compound from two directions.
The special operators used tactical munitions to blow holes in the walls of the compound and enter it along with K-9 military dog units.
As previously reported, Baghdadi retreated into a dead-end tunnel in the compound using his own children as human shields.
‘When capture at the hands of U.S. forces was imminent, Baghdadi detonated a bomb killing himself and two young children,’ the general said.
Developing story, more to follow.
Delta Force operators are seen storming the Syrian compound during the raid
The compound is seen being obliterated by drone munitions after the raid
An overview of the compound is shown before (left) and after (right) the raid
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