Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 29-10-2019
A University of Birmingham professor has told Radio Islam that despite ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi being reportedly ‘killed’ on several occasions, this time the US has gone on the record confirming his death.
US President Donald Trump confirmed al-Baghdadi was killed in a US military raid in northwest Syria on Sunday.
During a press conference Trump said al-Baghdadi had been “under surveillance for a couple of weeks”.
According to Trump, the ISIS chief died after running into a tunnel in the village of Barisha where he detonated an explosive vest, killing himself and three of his children.
University of Birmingham professor Scott Lucas says the US believes that they have killed al-Baghdadi.
“Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi when he was in the Iraqi insurgency after the 2003 US operation in Iraq, the US war, was a prisoner held by the Americans and they have would have taken his DNA at that point. They had forensic specialists at the scene, the US Military says who matched that DNA to the person who had blown himself up and this is what gives them the confidence that this is Baghdadi.”
Lucas says Trump will use al-Baghdadi death to be re-elected as president.
“Oh he absolutely has indeed. His press conference yesterday, this rambling statement of 48 minutes. To me a very disturbing statement. But it first and foremost was an election speech.”
World reaction to the news of al-Baghdadi’s death has been divided with some leaders hailing it as a turning point in the fight against “terrorism” while some governments played down its significance.
Listen to the interview with Scott Lucas
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