Trump suggests impeachment probe was reason he kept ISIS raid secret

U.S.President Donald Trump is suggesting the House Democrats' impeachment probe contributed to his decision to withhold notice to congressional leaders before Saturday's raid on Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Trump told reporters Monday he didn't inform the so-called "Gang of Eight" because "Adam Schiff is the biggest leaker in Washington."

The group includes the top Democrat and Republican in both chambers and the chairs and ranking members of the intelligence committees.

Schiff, the Democratchairing the House intelligence committee, is playing a central role in the impeachment inquiry.

Trump calls top Democrat 'the biggest leaker in Washington'

5 years ago

Duration 0:14

U.S. President Donald Trump defends his decision not to tell Congressional leaders about ISIS raid.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wasn't informed of the raid and called Sunday for a briefing for top congressional leadership.

Trump's decision not to inform leaders is the latest example of the White House keeping Congress in the dark on foreign policy. U.S. officials, though, did provide a heads-up to Russia and other nations with military forces in the region. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News that he discussed the operation Saturday night with his Russian counterpart.

Watch: Aerial footage shows aftermath of raid on ISIS leader:

Aftermath of raid on ISIS leader (courtesy Anadolu Agency)

5 years ago

Duration 1:09

Aerial footage of village where U.S. raid targeted ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

Trump's move this month to withdraw most U.S. forces from Syria and in the process clear the way for a Turkish assault on Kurdish fighters allied with the U.S. came as a shock to Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill.

Al-Baghdadi'died like a coward'

Al-Baghdadi, the shadowy leader of ISIS, presided over its global jihad and became arguably the world's most-wanted man.Heled ISIS for the last five years, presiding over its ascendancy as it cultivated a reputation for beheadings and attracted hundreds of thousands of followers to a sprawling and self-styled caliphate in Iraq and Syria.

He remained among the few ISIS commanders still at large despite multiple claims in recent years about his death and even as his so-called caliphate dramatically shrank, with many supporters who joined the cause imprisoned.

He was targeted in Syria's northwestern Idlib province, in the Barisha area, late Saturday. Trump announced the raid Sunday at the White House, saying the ISIS leader detonated a suicide vest during the operation, killing himself and three of his children.

Al-Baghdadi "died like a coward, crying, whimpering and screaming" as he ran to hide inside a tunnel, with U.S. troops closing in on him, Trump said Sunday. He said two wives of the ISIS leader, "both wearing vests," were also found dead in the rubble of the tunnel.

On Monday, U.S. Secretary of Defence Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, provided an update at the Pentagon onwhat they dubbed a multi-year, multi-agency effort to bring down Al-Baghdadi.

Asked about Trump's description of Al-Baghdadi's death, Milleysaid he did not know the source of the president's description of him "whimpering and screaming," but said he assumed those details camefrom military leaders on the ground.

Video and images from the operation are being declassified, Milley added.

No U.S. service personnel were killed in the operation, Esper said, and two adult males were taken into U.S. custody. Neither Esper nor Milley would elaborate on the men in custody or on the material they said was seized during the operation.

Listen toThe Rise and Fall of ISIS Leader al-Baghdadi on Front Burner:

Front Burner23:36The rise and fall of ISIS leader al-Baghdadi

On Sunday President Donald Trump announced that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died during a U.S. raid in Syria. Today on Front Burner, Joby Warrick explains the significance of Baghdadis death and what this means for the future of ISIS. Warrick is a national security reporter for the Washington Post and Pulitzer-prize winning author of Black Flags: The Rise Of ISIS.

The operation's success could prove a major boost for Trump. The recent pullback of U.S. troops he ordered from northeastern Syria raised a storm of bipartisan criticism in Washington that the militant group could regain strength, after it had lost vast stretches of territory it had once controlled.

During an event in Chicago Monday, Trump called Al-Baghdadi" a sick and depraved man" who should have been killed years ago.

WATCH | The National's story on U.S. military decision to stay in Syria after death of ISIS leader:

U.S. to stay in Syria after death of ISIS leader

5 years ago

Duration 1:58

The U.S. military will remain in Syria in a limited capacity after its raid on that led to the death of ISIS leader Abu-Bakr al Baghdadi over the weekend.