Statement from Rep. Katko on the Death of ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

Statement

U.S. Rep. John Katko (NY-24) released the following statement regarding the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi:

"Today's announcement from the President that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a raid led by U.S. Special Forces is an unprecedented victory in our fight against the rise of global terrorism. I applaud the brave men and women of our military and intelligence community for their work in planning and executing this raid, and President Trump for authorizing it."

"The elimination of al-Baghdadi has dealt a serious blow to ISIS. Still, we must be vigilant in our work to eliminate this organization, which remains a pressing threat to our homeland security. We have had at least seven terror attacks against the West carried out in this terror organization's name, including attacks in San Bernardino and Orlando in the United States, which killed a combined 63 people. There remain approximately 10,000 ISIS fighters in the Syria and Iraq region, and we can expect them to continue planning attacks and seeking footholds in new territory. As a leader on the House Homeland Security Committee, I am committed to continuing our work across party lines to keep this country safe."

Rep. Katko currently serves on the House Homeland Security Committee.

Source