A Syrian Kurd undercover agent took a pair of underpants belonging to Islamic State terrorist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and DNA tested to prove his identity before an operation by US forces to kill him, an advisor to the Syrian Democratic Forces said on Monday.
According to the reports, the Syrian Kurds claimed that they were successful in placing a spy in Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s inner circle who stole a pair of the Islamic State leader’s underpants to prove his identity and then helped guide US soldiers to his Syrian hideout.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said that they played a key role in tracking down Baghdadi to a compound in northern Syria where he was reportedly planning his escape over the nearby border into Turkey.
Polat Can, a senior advisor to the Kurdish-led SDF, gave details on Twitter about how SDF intelligence work had helped locate Baghdadi, whose death was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday.
“Our own source, who had been able to reach al-Baghdadi, brought al-Baghdadi’s underwear to conduct a DNA test and make sure (100%) that the person in question was al-Baghdadi himself,” said Can.
3 – Our own source, who had been able to reach Al Baghdadi, brought Al Baghdadi’s underwear to conduct a DNA test and make sure (100%) that the person in question was Al Baghdadi himself.
— بولات جان Polat Can (@PolatCanRojava) October 28, 2019
Polat Can further stated that the SDF had been working since May 15 with the CIA to track Baghdadi, and managed to confirm that he had moved from Deir al-Zor in eastern Syria to Idlib, where he was killed. Baghdadi had been about to change location to the Syrian town of Jarablus when the operation happened, he said.
“All intelligence and access to al-Baghdadi as well as the identification of his place were the results of our own work. Our intelligence source was involved in sending coordinates, directing the airdrop, participating in and making the operation a success until the last minute,” Can said.
US President Donald Trump, who announced the death of the ISIS leader Baghdadi on Sunday, thanked Syrian Kurdish forces “for certain support they were able to give us”, but did not elaborate. Trump said a DNA field test had confirmed his identity, and he also thanked Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Russia for their cooperation.
Donal Trump had also claimed credit for masterminding the operation that led to Baghdadi’s death. However, according to the SDF version, his withdrawal of US forces led to a postponement of the operation.
“More than a month ago, the decision was made to eliminate Al Baghdadi. However, the US withdrawal and the Turkish invasion prompted us to stop our special operations, including the pursuit of Al Baghdadi. The Turkish invasion caused a delay in the operation,” said Can.
