Al-Baghdadi's death a blow, but IS has survived other losses

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AP Beirut
Last Updated : Oct 27 2019 | 10:45 PM IST

The death of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi marks the demise of one of the most brutally effective jihadist leaders of modern times a man who commanded tens of thousands of fighters from around the world, carved out a territorial caliphate in the Middle East and refined a horrific ideology that survives him.

US President Donald Trump announced Sunday that al-Baghdadi was killed in a US raid in Syria after he was chased into a tunnel with three of his children and set off an explosives vest.

IS lost its last foothold of territory earlier this year to US-backed Kurdish-led forces, but al-Baghdadi had continued to exhort remnants of the group to carry out attacks.

His death is a major blow, but the extremist group has survived the loss of previous leaders and military setbacks going back to the aftermath of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

A look at al-Baghdadi's death and what it means going forward.

WHO WAS AL-BAGHDADI?
WAS HE A THREAT TO OTHER COUNTRIES?
WHAT EFFECT WILL HIS DEATH HAVE?
IS THIS THE END OF THE ISLAMIC STATE?

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First Published: Oct 27 2019 | 10:45 PM IST

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