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US officials share details of raid that killed ISIL leader
Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi lived in a three-storey building above an ‘unwitting family’, US official says.
The ISIL (ISIS) leader killed in a United States raid in Syria lived on the third floor of a compound above an “unwitting family” that was not associated with the group, US officials have said.
The US military conducted the operation on Wednesday that killed Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, who officials in Washington say blew himself up, killing members of his own family. ISIL has yet to confirm al-Qurayshi’s death.
US officials say the military chose to conduct a raid with troops instead of bombing the compound to minimise harm to the family that lived on the first floor.
“It was due to the risk of this unwitting family and other civilians in the area that President [Joe] Biden ordered this air assault operation, placing our own troops at risk to minimise the risk to others. And they succeeded in that mission,” a senior administration official told reporters on Wednesday.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said US forces were able to safely evacuate that family from the house in the early stages of the raid.
The official added that the explosion from al-Qurayshi’s house was significant. “The blast was so large, on the third floor, that it blew bodies outside of the house and into the surrounding areas,” the official said.
An ISIL lieutenant had barricaded himself and his family on the second floor during the raid, according to the US account. “He and his wife engaged the assault force. They were killed in the course of the operation,” the official said.
‘Hands-on’ leader
Later on Thursday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said “it appears as if a child was also killed on that second floor”.
But he added that the US military was able to bring out a total of 10 civilians from the building – six from the first floor and four children from the second floor.
Kirby said al-Qurayshi’s suicide bombing killed at least three civilians. But the White Helmets, the Syrian civil defence first responders that operate in rebel-held areas of the country, had said that 13 people were killed in the raid, including six children and four women.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin applauded the raid and reiterated that ISIL was responsible for the deaths of civilians during the operation.
But he suggested that the Pentagon will review the incident. “This operation was specifically designed and conducted in a manner to minimize civilian casualties,” Austin said in a statement.
“We know that al-Qurayshi and others at his compound directly caused the deaths of women and children last night. But, given the complexity of this mission, we will take a look at the possibility our actions may also have resulted in harm to innocent people.”
The Pentagon said US troops did not suffer casualties during the operation, but an American helicopter had a “mechanical failure” and was subsequently destroyed by the US military after the raid.
“There was a situation in which one of our helicopters had a mechanical issue, and so it was properly disposed of some distance from the site; it had nothing to do with any kind of hostile action,” the US official said.
Biden praised the operation on Thursday, saying that al-Qurayshi was the “driving force” behind ISIL’s campaign of massacres and sexual violence against the Yazidis in northwestern Iraq in 2014, when the group controlled large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.
The United Nations has classified ISIL’s assaults on the Yazidi people as a genocide.
“This operation is testament to America’s reach and capability to take out terrorist threats no matter where they try to hide anywhere in the world,” Biden said on Thursday.
ISIL named al-Qurayshi as its leader in 2019 after confirming the death of former chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was killed by US special forces days earlier.
On Thursday, Kirby described al-Qurayshi as a “hands-on kind of leader” who was aware of ISIL’s recent assault on a prison in northeast Syria. The US official had said that al-Qurayshi never left the house and commanded ISIL through couriers.
“We know that he certainly had knowledge of and was at least maintaining a level of situational awareness during the Hassakeh prison break last week,” Kirby said. “We know that he was directly involved in the massacre and the rape of innocent Yazidis back in 2014. This is a man that we should all be happy is no longer walking on the face of the earth court.”
The Kurdish-led, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) recaptured the prison in Hassakeh last week after several days of fighting had left dozens dead.
The raid in Syria comes less than a week after Austin issued a directive ordering the US military to do more to protect civilians from harm in drone attacks and other combat operations, amid a wave of criticism.
Reporting by the New York Times last month documented how the Pentagon discounted civilian casualties in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan over the past years.
The Pentagon also faced calls for accountability last year after a drone attack in Kabul killed 10 Afghan civilians, including seven children. US military leaders initially insisted that the August 2021 bombing in the Afghan capital targeted ISIL-affiliated operatives planning an attack on Kabul Airport, before eventually acknowledging civilians were killed.
The Pentagon reviewed the incident but decided against reprimanding any US military official after concluding that the drone attack was a “regrettable mistake” that did not violate the laws of war.
Annie Shiel, senior adviser at the US-based Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), said while the details of the US raid that killed the ISIL leader in Syria are still coming out, “the US military’s initial version of events is often incomplete, misleading, or wrong – especially when it comes to civilian casualties”.
“President Biden has been quick to hail this as a categorical success despite the tragic deaths of civilians, including children,” Shiel told Al Jazeera in an email on Thursday.
“And at the same time, he has yet to publicly address any of the very significant structural failures of US civilian harm policies and practices reported in the last few months. Where is the public recognition of, and reckoning with, the legacy of harm from the past two decades of US operations?”
Source: AL JAZEERA
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it has been vindicated by recent revelations from the state’s former Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke.
The Rivers APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, stated this in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists on Wednesday.
The former Head of Service, who recently resigned had alleged that the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was directly responsible for the political crisis in the state and the bombing of the State House of Assembly.
In response, the Rivers State APC asserted that Nwaeke’s testimony aligns with the party’s long-held position, as frequently stated by Chief Okocha, that the suspended governor was the architect of the state’s political crisis, including masterminding the October 29, 2023, bombing of the State House of Assembly.
Chief Okocha further emphasized that Nwaeke’s account, given his high-ranking position in the state, cannot be dismissed as mere speculation.
He said attempts to discredit the former Head of Service will not deter him from exposing the alleged corruption and misconduct that the APC has repeatedly highlighted.
“What is most interesting to the APC in Rivers State as a responsible political party is that Dr. George Nwaeke’s revelations and testimonies of how suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his squad bombed the Rivers State House of Assembly is an eye witness account.
“Again , it has clearly vindicated the APC in Rivers State as the only visible and viable opposition political party in the State, and has cemented the love for the party in the heart of well meaning Rivers people as the voice of the voiceless, and the hope for a better Rivers State.
“The revelations made by the former Head of Service in Rivers State has further positioned her as a political party with high level of integrity, and the hope of Rivers people for a viable alternative to produce the Governor of Rivers State in 2027.
“The verbal attacks staged against the resigned Head of Service will not deter him from exposing the corruption within Sim Fubara’s administration, which we have consistently highlighted as the opposition party. On this matter, the APC shall function as watchdogs”, the party stated.
Chief Tony Okocha expressed confidence that security agencies would thoroughly investigate the matter.
“The APC in Rivers State strongly believes that the relevant security agencies will be professional enough to get to the root of the matter and make their findings public”, he said.
A coalition of civil rights organizations, the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA), has called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the allegations leveled against suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, by Dr. George Nwaeke, the former Head of Service of the state.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu, Director General of the CCLCA, urged the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take swift action in probing the allegations. He emphasized that if proven true, these claims pose serious risks to governance and democracy.
The coalition, comprising 30 civil society organizations, stands in solidarity with Dr. Nwaeke, who has expressed willingness to provide evidence of alleged corruption and constitutional breaches involving Governor Fubara and his Chief of Staff, Mr. Edison.
“We collectively urge the relevant authorities to act swiftly and transparently. Addressing these allegations is critical to restoring public confidence in governance at both the state and national levels,” Dr. Nwambu stated.
He commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his intervention in Rivers State, which led to the declaration of a state of emergency, a move he described as crucial for stabilizing the region.
Dr. Nwaeke’s accusations against Governor Fubara include:
Arson and Sabotage: Allegedly instructing his Chief of Staff to burn down the Rivers State House of Assembly to prevent impeachment proceedings, a violation of Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution.
Corruption and Financial Misconduct: Claims of large sums of money being used for personal and illegal activities, contravening Section 15(5) of the Constitution.
Threats to Public Safety: Alleged plans to sabotage state infrastructure, potentially inciting public disorder, which falls under Section 1 of the Terrorism Prevention Act (2011).
Collusion with Militant Groups: Alleged meetings between the governor, his Chief of Staff, and militant leaders, posing a threat to national security and violating Section 43 of the Constitution.
Suppression of Labour Rights: Alleged attempts to bribe labour leaders to silence dissent, contravening Section 40 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of assembly.
The coalition has urged law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough, transparent, and expedited investigation into these allegations.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has appointed Sam Ifeanyi Hart, Esq. as his new Chief of Staff (CoS).
Hart replaces Hon. Toby Okechukwu who was recently appointed Executive Director, Projects of the newly established South East Development Commission (SEDC).
Prior to his appointment, Hart served as Special Adviser to the Deputy Speaker on Public Affairs and has an extensive background in training and consultancy.
Hart also previously served as Director-General, Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency from 2019 to 2023 after occupying other appointive positions.
He was also a member of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru where he attended the Senior Executive Course 45, serving as Course Secretary-General.
He has also served on the Boards of several corporate and non-governmental entities.
Hart brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new role, with a distinguished career spanning law, leadership, and public service.
A lifelong learner, he holds multiple academic qualifications, including a Master’s Degree in Environmental Law (LLM) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) from Abia State University.
The new Chief of Staff is also currently pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Law.
A seasoned professional, Hart has attended prestigious institutions, including the GOTNI Leadership Centre, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), and the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG).
He is also a member of several professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria (M.IoD), Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (ACIArb), and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
As Chief of Staff, Hart will provide strategic guidance and support to the Deputy Speaker legislative activities, leveraging his expertise to drive policy initiatives and promote good governance.
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