Trump: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s 'number one replacement' also killed by US troops
President Donald J. Trump addresses his remarks to the nation Sunday morning, Oct. 27, 2019, in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, to announce details of the U.S. Special Operations Forces mission against notorious ISIS leader Abu Bakr
In a tweet Tuesday morning, President Trump said that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s "number one replacement" was also killed by American troops. "Just confirmed that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s number one replacement has been terminated by American troops," the tweet read. "Most likely would have taken the top spot - Now he is also Dead!"
Trump formally announced the death of al-Baghdadi on Sunday following a successful U.S. military operation in northwest Syria Saturday night that took roughly two hours.
"Baghdadi was vicious and violent, and he died in a vicious and violent way, as a coward, running and crying," Trump said over the weekend. "He died like a dog, he died like a coward."
Trump said al-Baghdadi died while being chased down by U.S. forces in a tunnel, and that the ISIS leader was "whimpering and crying and screaming all the way." He then detonated a suicide vest, killing himself. Trump said three children who were with al-Baghdadi were also killed in the blast. Eleven other young children were taken out of the location uninjured, Trump said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report