The U.S. military raid that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi early Sunday morning in Syria unfolded over the course of a month, and includes a controversial withdrawal of U.S. troops from the region just weeks earlier:
September: The U.S. begins to receive intelligence on the whereabouts of Baghdadi, including some “helpful” information from the Kurds.
Oct. 7: President Trump announces the U.S. military will pull out of Syria, prompting fears of an ISIS resurgence. The withdrawal is later amended as troops are directed to Iraq to fight ISIS.
Thursday: Mike Pence, speaking Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” said that he and Trump learned on Thursday that there was a “high probability” that al-Baghdadi would be at his compound in Syria’s Idlib province.