Trump Says He Kept Details of ISIS Operation from Pelosi to Avoid Leaks

The US military raid in Syria caused the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi– something that President Trump kept secret from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He announced al-Baghdadi’s death early Sunday but did not tell Pelosi about the strike beforehand. In a tweet by NBC News reporter Alex Moe, other officials in the Democrat-held House were also uninformed about the ISIS leader’s death. This includes House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff, House Foreign Affairs Chair Elliot Engel, and House Armed Services Chair Adam Smith.

According to Trump, he did not tell Pelosi as he was worried that the mission might be compromised by leaks. He adds that he did not want any members of the US forces to die. According to Vice President Mike Pence, this was not an indication of a lack of trust.

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After the announcement of al-Baghdadi’s death, Pelosi issued a statement criticizing Trump for not informing Congress leaders beforehand. “Our military and allies deserve strong, smart, and strategic leadership from Washington,” Pelosi said. Trump explains that the only ones who knew about the operation beforehand were the people he has dealt with, mentioning Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley.

According to Business Insider, al-Baghdadi’s death “marks a major victory for US forces after the reclusive leader has spent the last five years in hiding while the United States placing a $25 million bounty on his head in 2016.”

Trump expressed the operation’s success with no killed members of the US forces and just one injured military dog. He also states that the “world is now a much safer place” after the ISIS leader’s death.

Sources:
• https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-says-he-kept-details-of-isis-operation-from-pelosi-to-avoid-leaks?fbclid=IwAR3AovRn-2BtbCHCnFFJhT8XjlF38BJ__M8L1gTnnh7irQUXCT8aU_nsAfk
• https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-didnt-tell-pelosi-isis-leader-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-2019-10