Blackburn: Raid that killed terrorist leader shows US will ‘remain relentless’ in working to defeat ISIS – Tennessean
U.S. forces killed terrorist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a raid over the weekend, President Donald Trump announced Sunday morning.
Al-Baghdadi led the extremist organization known as the Islamic State, or ISIS. Trump said he died after fleeing a house into a dead-end tunnel while being chased by U.S. Special Operations commandos in Northwest Syria.
Al-Baghdadi detonated a suicide vest that killed him as well as three of his children, Trump said.
RAID IN SYRIA: President Trump says ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead after U.S.-led raid in Syria
Some in Tennessee’s congressional delegation praised U.S. forces for their efforts and said the raid was an example of how the U.S. will continue its efforts to defeat ISIS.
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, said the raid was a “monumental achievement” and demonstrates the U.S. “remain relentless in pursuing the defeat of ISIS and prevent the rise of another terrorist leader like al Baghdadi.”
U.S. Rep. David Kustoff, R-Germantown,called the ISIS leader’s death a “major victory” for the U.S.
“Thank you to our military’s special operations force, intelligence officers, and everyone that was part of the mission that took out Baghdadi,” Kustoff said in a statement. “The world is now a safer place”
U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Ooltewah, said al-Baghdadi’s death is a “step toward a safer nation and a major defeat for those who wish to do us harm.”
U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-South Pittsburg, praised the president removing “combat restrictions that hampered U.S. forces in Syria.”
“Tennessee is grateful for the skill and determination of our troops,” DesJarlais posted on Twitter.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Knoxville, took to Twitter on Sunday to criticize the media over coverage of the raid. Burchett took particular aim at The Washington Post over an early headline on al-Baghdadi’s obituary. An initial headline did not use the word terrorist or extremist.
U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Clarksville, praised the president and U.S. troops for the operation but also criticized the media.
Green, who as a member of the U.S. Army was on the mission that captured former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, told Fox News on Sunday missions such as the one to kill al-Baghdadi are “very very complex” and can often be launched within 30 minutes of receiving intelligence.
As of Sunday afternoon, U.S. Reps. Phil Roe, R-Johnson City; John Rose, R-Cookeville; Jim Cooper, D-Nashville; Steve Cohen, D-Memphis; and U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, had not released statements or posted on Twitter about the raid.
This is a developing story.
USA Today contributed to this report.
Published 4:21 PM EDT Oct 27, 2019
