The leader of the Islamic State was killed in a U.S. military counterterrorism operation in Syria, President Joe Biden said Thursday, possibly delivering another blow to the extremist group that lost its charismatic figure Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019.
“Last night, operating on my orders, United States military forces successfully removed a major terrorist threat to the world — the global leader of ISIS,” Biden said at the White House, referring to Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi.
Al-Qurayshi had taken over from al-Baghdadi, who led the terrorist group also known as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. Al-Baghdadi was killed in a U.S. raid in Syria in 2019.
U.S. President Joe Biden attends a meeting at the White House in Washington on Jan. 20, 2022. (UPI/Kyodo)
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told a press conference that the United States believes the death of Al-Qurayshi “dealt a significant blow to ISIS,” describing him as a “very hands-on leader” involved in many day-to-day operations of the group.
The Islamic State remains a “viable threat,” he said, but noted it is no longer deemed as significant a threat as in 2014 when it seized control of vast swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq.
The group has also been known for its brutal campaign of beheadings and other acts of violence, in which Japanese people have also fallen victim.
But Kirby added, “They’re leaderless today.”
Al-Qurayshi died in a building where he lived, triggering his own death in the same manner as al-Baghdadi — by detonating a bomb that killed himself and members of his family as U.S. forces approached. His death was confirmed through fingerprints and DNA analysis.
Al-Qurayshi’s wife and two children died, as they were also on the third floor of the building where the leader ignited the explosive device.
A lieutenant of Al-Qurayshi and his wife, who were on the second floor of the building and fought back against U.S. forces, were killed and a child on the same floor appears to have also been killed, Kirby said.
To minimize civilian casualties in the mission, Biden said the U.S. military decided not to conduct an air strike and instead chose a special forces raid, which carries “a much greater risk” to their own service members.
Kirby pointed to “strong indications” that civilian deaths in the raid can be blamed on Al-Qurayshi, who blew himself up, and the resistance of his aide, while saying the Pentagon will look into whether there is any possibility that U.S. military action led to the loss of innocent life.
The spokesman also emphasized that the U.S. military protected some 10 lives, many of whom are children, by enabling them to leave the building safely.
According to The Associated Press, first responders at the scene reported that 13 people had been killed, including six children and four women.
