The Pentagon has released new details and footage of the special operation in which the leader of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed in the early morning hours of October 25.
General Kenneth McKenzie, who oversaw the covert operation, said six IS fighters were killed, including Baghdadi. He added that members of other militant groups were also killed in the clash.
No American special forces were injured in the action, emphasized General McKenzie. The only person injured was a military dog that was electrocuted by an electric wire, but recovered and returned to work.
"Once it became clear that we had received clear and useful intelligence on his hiding place, we developed a plan designed to capture or kill him and began preparing a special operations team for the mission," McKenzie said.
The special forces team stormed the location with transport helicopters, and had aerial support from combat helicopters, fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets and drones, the American general said.
President Donald Trump approved the plan for action, and US Central Command coordinated with Russia and Turkey to avoid an inadvertent conflict, McKenzie said.
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