Islamic State leader al-Baghdadi killed
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Islamic State, died during a night raid by US special operations forces on a compound in Syria's north-western Idlib province. President Donald Trump announced the death at the White House on 27 October 2019. In the official record of his remarks he said: "Last night the United States brought the world's number-one terrorist leader to justice. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead."
Trump said al-Baghdadi fled into a dead-end tunnel with three of his children and "ignited his vest, killing himself and the three children". He said test results gave positive identification. AP reported that Defense Secretary Mark Esper said two US service members suffered minor injuries. National security adviser Robert O'Brien said the remains would be buried at sea.
On 28 October 2019, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds issued a joint statement. It said al-Baghdadi "inspired or directed cowardly attacks by ISIS followers against innocent civilians around the world, some of whom were Australian." It also said "his death does not represent the end of the campaign to defeat this terrorist group". The statement confirmed that Australian Defence Force personnel continued to support Coalition operations against ISIS.
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