SECURITY FORCES ARE on high alert against possible retaliatory attacks by Islamic State-inspired terror groups in the Philippines following IS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi’s death, a military spokesman said.
The IS leader was killed in a recent U.S. raid in Syria after he was tracked down in a hideout by elite American soldiers.
Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said Al-Baghdadi’s death struck a severe blow on terrorist organizations around the globe and he expect that the terror leader’s death will impact negatively on the leadership of terrorists in various parts of the world.
Arevalo said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is ready to combat any eventuality, adding that the AFP will continue its vigorous efforts to prevent or counter any plan to sow terror in the country. “Our troops in the front lines remain on high alert to thwart possible attempts to ride on this development,” he said.
Arevalo called on Filipinos to stay alert and to report any suspicious people or activities to the authorities. “We must deny IS to gain foothold in our country,” he said.
Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said he ordered military units to intensify intelligence operations and monitor hostile plans of the IS-inspired groups in southern Philippines. “We are on alert. I ordered the units this morning to implement proactive measures to monitor these IS-inspired groups and to anticipate for the worst case scenario. But there is no cause for alarm,” Sobejana said.
In July, Sobejana said that at least seven foreign terrorists who were affiliated with the IS are trying to embed in the local existing terror organizations in southern Philippines. He said the Abu Sayyaf terror group is coddling the seven suspected terrorists in the remote island provinces of Basilan and Sulu, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao province.
Filipino Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Al-Baghdadi’s death is a blow to the IS organization. “But this is just a momentary setback considering the depth and reach of the organization worldwide. Somebody will take his place to lead the IS,” he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly said in public that ISIS is the biggest security threat in the country. Authorities have tagged the Abu Sayyaf, the BIFF and the Maute Group as terrorist groups with alleged links to the ISIS.
Foreign ISIS militants and a local recruit had killed themselves in suicide attacks in Basilan and Sulu.
U.S. Special Operations Forces
U.S. President Donald Trump said they had been searching for Baghdadi for many years, adding, capturing or killing Baghdadi had been the top national security priority of his administration.
Trump said U.S. Special Operations Forces executed a dangerous and daring night time raid in northwestern Syria and accomplished their mission in “grand style” and adding “the U.S. personnel were incredible. I got to watch much of it,” he said.
In a press conference, Trump told journalists how the U.S. Special Operators executed their mission. “No personnel were lost in the operation, while a large number of Baghdadi’s fighters and companions were killed with him. He died after running into a dead-end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way. The compound had been cleared by this time, with people either surrendering or being shot and killed. Eleven young children were moved out of the house and are uninjured. The only ones remaining were Baghdadi in the tunnel, and he had dragged three of his young children with him. They were led to certain death. He reached the end of the tunnel, as our dogs chased him down.
He ignited his vest, killing himself and the three children. His body was mutilated by the blast. The tunnel had caved in on it, in addition. But test results gave certain immediate and totally positive identification. It was him. The thug who tried so hard to intimidate others spent his last moments in utter fear, in total panic and dread, terrified of the American forces bearing down on him. We were in the compound for approximately two hours, and after the mission was accomplished, we took highly sensitive material and information from the raid, much having to do with ISIS origins, future plans, things that we very much want.
Baghdadi’s demise demonstrates America’s relentless pursuit of terrorist leaders and our commitment to the enduring and total defeat of ISIS and other terrorist organizations. Our reach is very long. As you know, last month, we announced that we recently killed Hamza bin Laden, the very violent son of Osama bin Laden, who was saying very bad things about people, about our country, about the world. He was the heir apparent to al Qaeda.
Terrorists who oppress and murder innocent people should never sleep soundly, knowing that we will completely destroy them. These savage monsters will not escape their fate, and they will not escape the final judgment of God. Baghdadi has been on the run for many years, long before I took office. But at my direction, as Commander-in-Chief of the United States, we obliterated his caliphate, 100 percent, in March of this year. Today’s events are another reminder that we will continue to pursue the remaining ISIS terrorists to their brutal end. That also goes for other terrorist organizations.
They are, likewise, in our sights. Baghdadi and the losers who worked for him — and losers they are — they had no idea what they were getting into. In some cases, they were very frightened puppies. In other cases, they were hard-core killers. But they killed many, many people. Their murder of innocent Americans — James Foley, Steven Sotloff, Peter Kassig, and Kayla Mueller — were especially heinous. The shocking publicized murder of a Jordanian pilot, a wonderful young man — spoke to the King of Jordan; they all knew him, they all loved him — he was burned alive in a cage for all to see. And the execution of Christians in Libya and Egypt, as well as the genocidal mass murder of Yazidis, rank ISIS among the most depraved organizations in the history of our world. The forced religious conversions, the orange suits prior to so many beheadings, all of which were openly displayed for the world to see, this was all that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi — this is what he wanted.
This is what he was proud of. He was a sick and depraved man, and now he’s gone. Baghdadi was vicious and violent, and he died in a vicious and violent way, as a coward, running and crying. This raid was impeccable, and could only have taken place with the acknowledgement and help of certain other nations and people. I want to thank the nations of Russia, Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. And I also want to thank the Syrian Kurds for certain support they were able to give us. This was a very, very dangerous mission. Thank you, as well, to the great intelligence professionals who helped make this very successful journey possible.
I want to thank the soldiers, and sailors, airmen, and Marines involved in last tonight’s operation. You are the very best there is anywhere in the world. No matter where you go, there is nobody even close. I want to thank General Mark Milley and our Joint Chiefs of Staff, and I also want to thank our professionals who work in other agencies of the United States government and were critical to the mission’s unbelievable success.
Last night (October 26) was a great night for the United States and for the world. A brutal killer, one who has caused so much hardship and death, has violently been eliminated. He will never again harm another innocent man, woman, or child. He died like a dog. He died like a coward. The world is now a much safer place.”
U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper also praised the killing of the notorious and elusive IS leader. “This is a great day for America and a great day for the world. US joint special operations forces and interagency partners flawlessly executed a Commander-in-Chief directed operation to capture or kill Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. As a result, al-Baghdadi, who led the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terrorist movement and inspired one of the most brutal and misguided terror campaigns in modern history, is dead at the hands of the United States military.”
“With our partners, we defeated the physical caliphate of ISIS earlier this year and now its founder and leader is dead. This is a major victory in the enduring defeat ISIS mission. I want to commend all those participating in and supporting the operation – American and partners alike – for a job well done.” (Xinhua. With additional reporting from the Mindanao Examiner.)
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