US President Donald Trump on Tuesday tweeted the photo of a dog that played a key role in the death of dreaded ISIS leader Abu Bakr-al Baghdadi. "We have declassified a picture of the wonderful dog (name not declassified) that did such a GREAT JOB in capturing and killing the Leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi!" tweeted Trump. However, the US government has decided not to reveal the name of the dog to "protect its identity".
Trump released the photo of the dog even as the Pentagon had, on Monday, stated that they would not release the name or photo of the dogs. "But the dog is still in theater, returned to duty with its handler. So we're not going to release photos or names of dogs or anything else just yet. It's a classified unit," the top American general had said at a joint news conference with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.
The US service dog was injured in the American air raid in northwest Syria. "Nobody was even hurt. Our 'K-9' as they call, I call it a dog, a beautiful dog. A talented dog was injured and brought back," Trump said in response to a question on Sunday. Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said on Monday, "The K-9, the military working dog, performed a tremendous service, as they all do in a variety of situations. It is slightly wounded and fully recovering."
Baghdadi killed himself and his three children by blowing up his powerful suicide vest after being chased by dogs, including K-9, towards the dead end of a tunnel.
On Sunday, Trump had said when the American troops landed in eight helicopters along with specially trained canines, they also had with them a robot, the first of its kind, to go after the ISIS leader inside the tunnel. As such the robot was not used, the president told reporters at the White House, giving details of the operation in northwest Syria.
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K9s of Valor, a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping police K9 officers safe by donating lifesaving equipment, said, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the US Special Forces dog injured Saturday during the raid on an ISIS terrorist's compound. He sustained blast injuries as he chased a screaming Baghdadi into a tunnel. He did return with his team and is being treated."
The dog that accompanied US commandoes who killed Osama bin Laden at his hideout in Pakistan's Abbottabad was named as Cairo. It was a Belgian Malinois.