President Joe Biden confirmed that U.S. Special Forces have killed ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi during a raid in Syria last night:
BREAKING: President Biden says U.S. raid in Syria killed top Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi. https://t.co/jpgIKTqKMA
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 3, 2022
Who?
NBC News’ Raf Sanchez notes that “very few people anywhere know much about him”:
Biden confirms the raid in Syria was aimed at the new-ish ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi.
Very few Americans will be familiar with him. But to be fair very few people anywhere know much about him.
— Raf Sanchez (@rafsanchez) February 3, 2022
Biden’s statement here:
President Biden says ISIS leader killed in Northern Syria. pic.twitter.com/B9IZSP1LhS
— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) February 3, 2022
The AP also reported that 6 women and 4 children were killed during the raid:
ATMEH, Syria (AP) — U.S. special forces carried out what the Pentagon said was a large-scale counterterrorism raid in northwestern Syria early Thursday. First responders at the scene reported 13 people were killed, including six children and four women.
After what happened in Afghanistan, forgive us if we don’t believe Biden’s spin that this was a “successful” mission just yet:
US Special Forces conducted a "successful" counterterrorism mission in northwest Syria Wednesday, the Pentagon says, while offering few other details. The Syrian civil defense says 13 were killed, including 6 children, after clashes following the raid. https://t.co/k9PI3oeky1
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 3, 2022
Update: An anonymous U.S. official is saying he detonated a suicide vest and killed his family:
And US official confirms to @edokeefe that al-Qurashi died by using a similarly "cowardly terrorist tactic," while also taking the lives of members of his own family. https://t.co/B8gegObbVk
— Steven Portnoy (@stevenportnoy) February 3, 2022
Update 2
From reporter Jenan Moussa:
#EXCLUSIVE Our source on the ground in Atmeh, #Syria managed to enter the house which was raided by US special forces last night. Blood on the floor, chaos inside, damage clearly visible. Have a look at this @akhbar video 👇👇pic.twitter.com/fzuPyJnIld
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) February 3, 2022
Acc to eye witnesses, an Iraqi speaker who was with the Americans shouted through a loudspeaker during Atmeh raid: "You have 15 minutes to surrender & get out of the house." However occupants refused &a gun battle erupted. Here some pics of damage to outer wall & ammo.@akhbar pic.twitter.com/EUzSwhFhm4
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) February 3, 2022
According to the @SyriaCivilDef, at least 13 people, including 6 children & 4 women, were killed in bombings and clashes that followed an airborne operation by American forces just after midnight on a house in #Atmeh town on the Syrian-Turkish border.@akhbar
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) February 3, 2022
And she’s reported an American helicopter crashed during the operation:
Here exclusive pictures by my source on the ground in Syria of an American helicopter which crashed last night during the special operation that killed the leader of ISIS.@akhbar pic.twitter.com/4YgFMg1Fb1
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) February 3, 2022
Update 3
American forces reportedly destroyed the helicopter:
Just to clarify: The damage done to the U.S. helicopter, as seen on the pictures, is not due to landing/crash or enemy fire. The Americans destroyed the helicopter themselves after an unknown failure forced it to land.@akhbar pic.twitter.com/sm2anPdxUG
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) February 3, 2022
***
Editor’s note: This post has been updated.
Join the Conversation
VIP members get the ability to comment on articles.