ISIS leader Baghdadi's possible replacement killed by US troops: Trump

The possible successor to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been terminated by US troops, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (October 29), three days after the Iraq-born ISIS leader was killed in an American raid in Syria.

“Just confirmed that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s number one replacement has been terminated by American troops. Most likely would have taken the top spot – Now he is also Dead!” tweeted the US President.

Just confirmed that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s number one replacement has been terminated by American troops. Most likely would have taken the top spot – Now he is also Dead!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2019

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Baghdadi had not officially named his successor, but several names were being speculated after his death. Trump told reporters on Sunday that the US knew the potential successors of Baghdadi and was after them.

However, Trump neither identified the slain terrorist nor give any other details regarding his killing. Multiple media reports from the region suggest that the eliminated terrorist was Abu Hassan al-Muhajir.

A report by The New York Times said that he was being smuggled across northern Syria in the back of an oil tanker truck when it was hit by what witnesses said they believed to be an American airstrike.

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“Little is known about him, including his real name and nationality, complicating efforts to confirm that he was the one killed in Sunday’s strike. But terrorism experts considered him a possible successor to al-Baghdadi,” the report said.

According to President Trump, Baghdadi had blown himself up on Saturday with a suicide vest during a raid by US forces. Later, media reports said that the remains of the ISIS leader were given a sea burial at an undisclosed location.

(With inputs from agencies)