The world’s most wanted terrorist, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was so worried about security that he only trusted a handful of aides and family members. One of them betrayed him.
Tag: Targeted Killings
As Kurds Tracked ISIS Leader, U.S. Withdrawal Threw Raid Into Turmoil
Trump’s decision to pull troops from Syria upended a 5-year alliance and threw the plans against al-Baghdadi into disarray.
Watching the Raid Was Like a Movie, the President Said. Except There Was No Live Audio.
Surveillance video provided a dramatic portrait of action outside the al-Baghdadi compound, but could not show what happened in an underground tunnel where the ISIS leader died. For that, Mr. Trump would have to hear from Delta Force, or their commanders.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, ISIS Leader Known for His Brutality, Is Dead at 48
President Trump announced the death of al-Baghdadi, who transformed the Islamic State into a global terrorist network that conquered territory the size of Britain and directed horrific attacks in the West.
Special Operations Raid Said to Kill Senior Terrorist Leader in Syria
The identity of the target was not confirmed, but President Trump was scheduled to make a statement on Sunday morning.
Berlin Murder Raises Suspicions of Russian Involvement
The well-planned killing of an ex-Chechen rebel has raised concerns that Russia may have deployed an agent to kill a Kremlin foe, a tactic it has used before.
U.N. Expert Calls for International Investigation Into Khashoggi Killing
Agnes Callamard, the United Nations expert on extrajudicial killings, excoriated the world body for its “paralysis” in the killing of a journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, by Saudi agents in Istanbul.
Fabien Clain, Prominent French Voice of ISIS, Is Reported Killed in Syria
Mr. Clain, who had navigated French jihadi circles for two decades, recorded propaganda messages for ISIS.
U.S. Heightens Attacks on Taliban in Push Toward Peace in Afghanistan
The number of deadly strikes by American forces has tripled since 2014, including an increase as negotiations with the Taliban began last fall.
U.N. Execution Expert Will Investigate Khashoggi Killing
The inquiry marks the first United Nations involvement in the case, but it falls short of the full, formal investigation demanded by Turkey.