ISIS Leader Blows Up Family, Himself Amid US Special Forces Raid in Syria: Biden

"US military forces 'have removed from the battlefield' ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi," Biden said.

United States President Joe Biden informed on Thursday, 3 February, that US military forces “have removed from the battlefield” ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, after he blew himself up during an overnight raid in Syria's Idlib province.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

United States President Joe Biden informed on Thursday, 3 February, that US military forces “have removed from the battlefield” ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi.

The ISIS leader is reported to have blown himself up during an overnight raid in Syria's Idlib province.

Taking to Twitter, Biden wrote:

“Last night at my direction, US military forces successfully undertook a counterterrorism operation. Thanks to the bravery of our Armed Forces, we have removed from the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi — the leader of ISIS. (Sic)”

The US president also addressed a press over the counter-terrorist operation later in the day, describing the al-Qurayshi's last move to blow himself up as an "act of desperate cowardice."

"As our troops approached to capture the terrorist, in a final act of desperate cowardice, with no regard to the lives of his own family or others in the building, he chose to blow himself up, rather than face justice for the crimes he has committed," Biden stated.

As per the statement by the President, Qurashi killed several members of his family with him, just as his predecessor Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had.

Atmeh : People inspect a destroyed house following an operation by the U.S. military in the Syrian village of Atmeh, in Idlib province, Syria, Thursday.  US special operations forces conducted a large-scale counterterrorism raid in northwestern Syria overnight Thursday, in what the Pentagon said was a "successful mission." Residents and activists reported multiple deaths including civilians from the attack.

(Photo: PTI)

Earlier in the day, sharing a photo of President Biden, Vice President Harris, and members of the President’s national security team, the White House wrote:

“President Biden, Vice President Harris and members of the President’s national security team observe the counterterrorism operation responsible for removing from the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi — the leader of ISIS. (sic)”

Witnesses Narrate the US Raid

An Associated Press report has cited witnesses as saying that the US special forces landed in helicopters and forcefully entered a house in rebel-held Idlib province, clashing for two hours with gunmen.

Residents described continuous gunfire and explosions that jolted the town of Atmeh near the Turkish border, an area dotted with camps for internally displaced people from Syria’s civil war.

Witnesses, speaking on the condition of anonymity also reported blood splattered inside the two-storey house, which was left with its top floor shattered, reported AP.

AJ Plus cited medics as saying at least 13 people were killed – including up to six children – during the US commando strike, which took place near camps for internally displaced people.

The Pentagon, on their part, have said that there were no US casualties.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby, was quoted by AP as saying: "The mission was successful. There were no US casualties.”

(With inputs from Associated Press and AJ Plus.)