‘This horrible terrorist leader is no more,’ Biden says after ISIS leader killed in U.S. raid

President Biden declared that “this horrible terrorist leader is no more” as he spoke to the nation Thursday about a U.S. Special Operations counterterrorism mission in which Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, the leader of the Islamic State militant group, was killed.

“Last night’s operation took a major terrorist leader off the battlefield, and it sent a strong message to terrorists around the world: We will come after you and find you,” Biden said from the White House.

Thirteen people, including children, died during the overnight raid on an Islamic State safe house in northwestern Syria, local first responders said. No U.S. casualties were reported in the operation, but U.S. forces did destroy one of their helicopters after it became disabled. Biden said civilian casualties were caused when Qurayshi detonated a huge explosion that killed members of his family. The Pentagon confirmed at least three civilian deaths.

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