operation, two members of the al qaeda affiliate were killed by u.s. forces. they had to keep one of their helicopters on the ground for mechanical failures. there were combatants. that wasn t the plan. this raid was the biggest u.s. operation in syria since the one that killed abu bakr al ba baghdadi, the original terrorist. in march 2020, the state department labeled him a specially designated global terrorist with a $10 million reward. he was responsible for the recent brutal attack on the prison in northeast syria holding isis fighters. he was the driving force behind the genocide of the people in northwest iraq in 2014. reporter: he never left the
operation, officials say two members of an al qaeda affiliate were killed in an exchange of fire with u.s. forces. u.s. forces also having to destroy one of the helicopters on the ground after mechanical failures. four civilians were killed in all, according to the pentagon, and five combatants. that wasn t the plan. and i said capture the leader of isis. that was the intent of the mission. reporter: this raid was the biggest u.s. operation in syria since the operation to kill baghdadi in 2019, the original leader of isis. his exact birthplace and birth date, unclear. he was a u.s. detention in 2008 before he was turned over to the iraqis, and at some point, released. in march 2020, the state department labeled him a specially designated global terrorist with a $10 million reward. he was responsible for the recent brutal attack on a prison in northeast syria holding isis fighters. he was the driving force behind the genocide of the people in northwestern iraq in 2014.
various parts of the syria and iraq. he was responsible for the recent brutal attack on a prison in northeast syria, holding isis fighters. he was the driving force behind the genocide of the people in northwestern iraq in 2014. reporter: according to officials, al qureshi never left his family on the third floor except to bathe on the roof. by december, u.s. officials were certain it was him in the residence. this operation is testament to america s reach and capability to take out terrorist threats no matter where they try to hide, anywhere in the world. reporter: while the death of a top isis leader remains a significant victory in the fight against the terrorist group. make no mistakes that isis is a much more degraded organization than they were in 2014. we know we have to stay focused on isis. we know they still have designs to kill and maim and terrorize,
ukraine in 2014. reporter: an invasion is not just likely but imminent. still signs of an opening. the russian military announcing some troops will return to base. our intention is and we strive to negotiate with our partner ons ts on the issues we to resolve with diplomatic means. we have not yet verified the russian military units are returning to their home bases. indeed, our analysts indicate that they remain very much in a threatening position. reporter: as major russian exercises continue on the border. there are signs from moscow that diplomacy should continue. this gives grounds for cautious
biggest raid in syria since 2019, to kill the leader of isis. his background is a mystery. his birthplace and birth date unclear. he was in u.s. detention in 2008 before he was turned over to the iraqis and at some point released. in march 2020, the state department labeled him as specially designated global terrorist, with a $10 million reward. he was responsible for the recent brutal attack in a prison in northeast syria holding isis fighters. he was the driving force of the genocide of the seedy people in northwestern iraq in 2014. reporter: he never left the third floor of the building in northwest syria except to bathe on the roof, officials said. by early december, intelligence officials believed they had pinpointed his location. and biden authorized the operation. white house called his death a blow to isis. but the terror organization, still suffering from the defeat of its self-declared caliphate in 2019, has plans to rebuild.