US President Donald Trump on Sunday announced that US special forces had killed "Islamic State" (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in northern Syria.
"Last night, the United States brought the world's number one terrorist leader to justice," Trump said. "Al-Baghdadi is dead."
Last night, the United States brought the world’s number one terrorist leader to justice. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 27, 2019
"He reached the end of the tunnel as our dogs chased him down," Trump added. Al-Baghdadi detonated a vest laden with explosives when he was cornered in a tunnel. The explosion killed three of his children.
US special forces were able to identify al-Baghdadi 15 minutes after he was killed by conducting a DNA test on-site. The DNA test was crucial given that al-Baghdadi had been declared dead numerous times.
There were no US casualties during the operation.
'Last moments in utter fear'
US soldiers were able to capture critical material about the organisation, including information about its origins and future plans, according to Trump.
Trump said US intelligence knew about his whereabouts for "a couple of weeks."
"He spent his last moments in utter fear, in panic and dread, terrified of American forces coming down on him," Trump said. "He was a sick and depraved man, and now he is gone."
US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said the raid had initially sought to capture al-Baghdadi alive.
Al-Baghdadi rose to notoriety when he announced the creation of a so-called caliphate in Syrian and Iraqi territories captured by his terror group in 2014.
World reacts
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described al-Baghdadi's death as a pivotal moment, but he warned that it did not mark the end of IS.
"The death of Baghdadi is an important moment in our fight against terror but the battle against the evil of Daesh is not yet over," Johnson said. "We will work with our coalition partners to bring an end to the murderous, barbaric activities of Daesh once and for all.”
The death of Baghdadi is an important moment in our fight against terror but the battle against the evil of Daesh is not yet over.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) October 27, 2019
We will work with our coalition partners to bring an end to the murderous, barbaric activities of Daesh once and for all.
French Defence Minister Florence Parly echoed that sentiment, saying: "We continue the fight against the Islamic State with our partners, and will adapt to new regional circumstances."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump "on the impressive achievement.”
Intelligence operation contested
Meanwhile, US allies challenged each other's role in the killing of al-Baghdadi. The general commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which spearheaded the fight against IS with US backing, claimed to have played an integral part in the intelligence operation leading to al-Baghdadi's killing.
But Iraqi authorities contested that claim, saying they had located al-Baghdadi and provided the intelligence to the US.
Trump thanked Russia, Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Syrian Kurds for their contributions to the operation's success. However, Russia's Defence Ministry said it did not have any information on the operation targeting al-Baghdadi.
IS has lost most of the territory it captured following several offensives from regional and international actors. Iraq formally declared victory over the group two years ago after liberating Mosul, once considered IS' de facto capital in the country.