Move FM Global News

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Defense Secretary, Mark Esper, who watched with President Trump and Vice President Pence, the operation that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has issued a statement supporting the operation.

Unlike Mr Trump who went into graphic detail and made elaborate characterizations as to the terrorist’s last minutes and seconds, the defense secretary was considerably more restrained. Nonetheless he was jubilant about the relevance and success of the mission.

“This is a great day for America and a great day for the world,” he said Sunday.

“Last night, US joint special operations forces and inter-agency partners flawlessly executed a Commander-in-Chief directed operation to capture or kill Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.”

“As a result, al-Baghdadi, who led the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terrorist movement and inspired one of the most brutal and misguided terror campaigns in modern history, is dead at the hands of the United States military,” the defense secretary said.

“With our partners we defeated the physical caliphate of ISIS earlier this year and now its founder and leader is dead. This is a major victory in the enduring defeat ISIS mission.”

“I want to commend all those participating in and supporting the operation – American and partners alike – for a job well done,” he said.

The Pentagon chief and the the president and vice president assembled in the Situation Room at the White House to watch the operation unfold.

Eight helicopters carrying U.S. special forces arrived at Baghdadis compound on Saturday night. After engaging guards in a gunfight, they then blasted their way into the compound.

Mr Trump on Monday said he was considering declassifying and releasing part of the video of the operation.