12 things we know about the killing of ISIS leader al-Baghdadi

The fugitive leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), Abu Bakr a-Baghdadi was killed by the United States Special Forces on Saturday night.

Here are at least 12 things we know about the demise of the planet’s most dangerous terrorist since Osama Bin-Laden, the dreaded founder of the Al Qaeda, who was killed by US forces in April 2011.

* The United States has been on the trail of Baghdadi for many years.

* Capturing or killing Baghdadi has been the top national security priority of the Donald Trump’s administration.

* Baghdadi, a former university professor, was tracked for two weeks to a compound in Syria’s Idlib province which was laid with tunnels.

* The operation involved eight helicopters and was accomplished under two hours

* The compound was cleared by the time the US troops landed with people either surrendering or being shot and killed.

* 11 young children were moved out of the house and are uninjured. The only ones remaining were Baghdadi in the tunnel and he had dragged three of his young children with him.

* No US personnel died in the operation. While a large number of Baghdadi’s fighters and companions were killed with him.

* The ISIS leader died after igniting a vest he was wearing. The blast killed him and three children.

* Baghdadi died after running into a dead end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way.

* He reached the end of the tunnel as the US dogs chased him down.

* He ignited his vest, killed himself and the three children. His body was mutilated by the blast.

* Russia, Turkey and the Kurdish-led Syrian forces provided support in the efforts to get rid of the fugitive ISIS leader.

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