The leader of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, committed suicide.
This was announced by the President of the USA, Donald Trump.
Trump also said that 15 minutes after his death, a DNA test was performed that confirmed his identity.
"He was a sick and depraved man and now he is gone. He died like a dog, like a coward," Trump said, Reuters reported.
The US president said America had brought the world's top terrorist leader to justice.
He also said that the US had been monitoring Al-Baghdadi for several weeks and that during the operation, US aircraft flew low and fast and that they encountered fire in some places.
He told reporters that he followed the American operation in real time last night thanks to cameras worn by members of the special forces.
"It was like watching a movie," Trump said, stressing that he received a positive identification of the body and that the world is now a much safer place.
Trump also said that the US military operation that killed Baghdadi was more significant than the one that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011 during (US President Barack) Obama's administration.
He acknowledged that bin Laden's death was significant, but he believes the news of al-Baghdadi's killing is even bigger news.
The US president said bin Laden was not a household name in terrorism until the September 11, 2001 attacks, unlike al-Baghdadi, who Trump says is responsible for building the caliphate.
He stated that eight helicopters participated in the operation.
He confirmed that no one from the US was injured in the operation.
He said that he observed the operation together with US Vice President Mike Pence.
"Last night was a big night for the United States and the world," the US president said.
During the conference, Trump thanked Russia, Turkey, Syria, Iraq and the Syrian Kurds for their help, saying the Russians were very cooperative.
"This is another reminder that we will continue to hunt down the remaining IS terrorists, and this also applies to other terrorist organizations, they are the same in our eyes," Trump said.
Trump also stated that a large number of people close to al-Baghdadi had been killed, and that the US would announce the exact number.
At the press conference, the US president also said that Al-Baghdadi killed three children during his escape attempt.
"He reached the end of the tunnel, our dogs brought him there. He led his three children to their deaths. He cried until the end. He activated the vest with explosives and his body was mutilated, and the tunnel collapsed on him after the explosion." Trump said.
He added that only the American army dog was injured in the action.
The United States conducted an operation targeting the leader of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Earlier, the Reuters agency announced that the official Iraq was informed that al-Baghdadi had been killed.
Al-Baghdadi has led the Islamic State since 2010, when it was still an offshoot of Al Qaeda.
He appeared in public only once, in July 2014, when he declared a "caliphate" in Syria and Iraq in a mosque in Mosul in northern Iraq.
In September, Al-Baghdadi called on his supporters in an audio message to free captured Islamic State fighters and their families.
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