October 28, 2019

ISIS Leader Killed on Turkey’s Doorstep

Featuring: Nicholas Heras

Source: The National Interest

Journalist: Matthew Petti

President Donald Trump broke up three weeks of dismal news about Syria with cause for celebration in both America and the Middle East. ISIS (Islamic State) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead after Delta Force commandos cornered him at his northern Syrian lair.

“I want to thank the nations of Russia, Turkey, Syria, and Iraq,” Trump said in an October 24 speech. “And I also want to thank the Syrian Kurds for certain support they were able to give us.”

A joint Turkish-Iraqi intelligence operation reportedly helped lead to al-Baghdadi’s location. After the raid, Turkey detained twenty foreigners affiliated with ISIS.

Read the full story and more in The National Interest.

Author

  • Nicholas Heras

    Former Fellow, Middle East Security Program

    Nicholas A. Heras is a former Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), working in the Middle East Security Program. His work focused on the analysis of complex...