U.S. President Donald Trump placed the Islamic State group’s new chief in the crosshairs on Monday as he marked Veterans’ Day by celebrating the killing of the jihadists’ former leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
While U.S. Presidents traditionally mark the day by laying a wreath at a vast military cemetery in Arlington, near Washington, Mr. Trump travelled to New York, where he made an address ahead of the city’s annual parade of veterans.
Mr. Trump was widely criticised after announcing a full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria last month, with opponents and even some allies saying it could allow Islamic State to rebuild.
But the U.S. President used his speech to claim that the IS leadership was running scared in the wake of Baghdadi’s death in a raid in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib on October 26.
Also read | Afghan Islamic State after Baghdadi
“Just a few weeks ago, American special forces raided the ISIS compound and brought the world’s number one terrorist leader to justice... Thanks to American warriors, al-Baghdadi is dead, his second in charge is dead, we have our eyes on number three,” he said.
“His reign of terror is over, and we have our enemies running very, very scared. Those who threaten our people don’t stand a chance against the righteous might of the American military.”
IS had named Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi as its new leader.
