Journalism of Courage
People inspect a destroyed house following an operation by the US military in the Syrian village of Atmeh, in Idlib province, Syria, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. US president Joe Biden Thursday said the leader of the Islamic State group was killed during the raid in the province. (AP)
The raid was targeted at Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, head of the militant group. He took over the group on Oct. 31, 2019, after the death of leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi during a US raid in the same area. In pic: Military devices are shown outside a destroyed house after the operation by the US military in the Syrian village of Atmeh in Idlib province. (AP)
According to a US official, al-Quraysh died by exploding a bomb that killed himself and members of his family. In pic: Debris and rubble are seen in the aftermath of a counter-terrorism mission conducted by the US Special Operations Forces in Atmeh, Syria. (Via Reuters)
According to reports, 13 people had been killed, including six children and four women during the operation. Idlib is one of the rebel strongholds in Syria, largely controlled by Turkish-backed fighters. al-Qaida and IS have also found refuge in the region. (AP)
US President Joe Biden said that he ordered the raid to protect American people and their allies and to make the world a safer place. In pic: A Syrian man rides his motorcycle along with damaged shops after the operation by the US. (AP)
The operation came against the backdrop of IS trying for a resurgence with a series of attacks in the region, including a 10-day assault last month to seize a prison. In pic: A doll lies among debris inside a house in the aftermath of the operation by the US. (Via Reuters)
For the US, this operation marks a military success after some setbacks including Afghanistan withdrawal. In pic: Emergency personnel sifts through debris in the aftermath of a counter-terrorism mission conducted by the U.S. Special Operations Forces in Atmeh, Syria (Reuters)
