Biden details US raid in Syria that left ISIS leader dead

President Joe Biden said Thursday morning a U.S. special operations raid in Syria left the leader of ISIS dead.

President Joe Biden on Thursday, in remarks from the White House, gave details to the nation about a dramatic U.S. raid overnight in Syria he said took the leader of ISIS "off the battlefield."

"Last night, operating on my orders, the United States military forces successfully removed in a major terrorist threat to the world, the global leader of ISIS, known as Haji Abdullah. He took over as leader of ISIS in 2019 after the United States counterterrorism operation killed Al Bhaghdadi," Biden said from the Roosevelt Room. "Thanks to the bravery of our troops, this horrible terrorist leader is no more."

Amid reports of women and children also killed, Biden said he had directed the Department of Defense "to take every precaution possible to minimize civilian casualties."

"Knowing that this terrorist had chosen to surround himself with families, including children, we made a choice to pursue a Special Forces raid at a much greater risk than our to our own people rather than targeting him with an airstrike," Biden said. "We made this choice to minimize civilian casualties."