President Joe Biden, has today (Thursday, February 3, 2022), addressed the nation in the overnight raid undertaken by US special operation forces in Northwest Syria.
Mr. Biden, in his remarks from the White House, said the U.S. raid overnight in Syria killed the leader of ISIS.
“Last night, operating on my orders, the United States military forces successfully removed in a major terrorist threat to the world, the global leader of ISIS, known as Haji Abdullah. He took over as leader of ISIS in 2019 after the United States counterterrorism operation killed Al Bhaghdadi,” Biden said from the Roosevelt Room.“Thanks to the bravery of our troops, this horrible terrorist leader is no more.”
Mr. Biden said he has directed the Department of Defense “to take every precaution possible to minimize civilian casualties,” following reports of women and children killed in the raid.
“Knowing that this terrorist had chosen to surround himself with families, including children, we made a choice to pursue a Special Forces raid at a much greater risk to our people rather than targeting him with an airstrike,” Biden said. “We made this choice to minimize civilian casualties.”
President, Joe Biden
“We do know that as our troops approached to capture the terrorist in a final act of desperate cowardice, he, with no regard to the lives of his own family or others in the building, he chose to blow himself up. Not just in the vest but the blow-up that third floor, rather than face justice for the crimes he has committed, taking several members of his family with him. Just as his predecessor did,” Biden further explained.
Earlier today (Thursday, February 3, 2022), the White House tweeted a photo it said showed Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the Situation Room watching as the raid took place.
He said the US remains vigilant and prepared, saying the operation took a major terrorist leader off the battlefield and should send a strong message to terrorists around the world. “We will come after you and find you.”
The Pentagon earlier confirmed US special operations forces carried out what it called a “successful” counterterrorism mission in northwest Syria Wednesday, February 2, 2022, but provided little information.
John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, in a statement earlier said “US Special Operations forces under the control of U.S. Central Command conducted a counterterrorism mission this evening in northwest Syria. The mission was successful. There were no U.S. casualties,” adding that “More information will be provided as it becomes available.”
According to a US official, one of the helicopters used in the mission experienced a mechanical problem and then had to be blown up on the ground by U.S. forces. However, no details were provided on whether the operation involved ground troops and helicopters, as was claimed in a flurry of social media reports emerging from Syria on Wednesday (February 2, 2022) night.
Social media posts reported possible US military activity in Idlib province, a town in far western Syria, close to the border with Turkey. Some posts included videos that seemed to show night scenes where the sounds of gunfire and low-flying helicopters could be heard.
13 civilians were killed as a result of the fighting and blasts that occurred at the raid site, including six children and four women, First responders to the raid, the opposition-run Syrian Civil Defense said.
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war watchdog group based in the United Kingdom, said nine people, including at least two children and a woman, died during Wednesday’s (February 2, 2022) mission, the group (citing sources) noted in a press statement.
Meanwhile, a US official, said the civilian casualties were not the result of U.S. military fire but occurred when the target ignited an explosive device at the beginning of the operation.
READ ALSO: President Akufo-Addo Commends AU Suspension Of Burkina Faso
