Background: 2019 Raid on ISIS Leadership

In 2019, the Trump administration deployed U.S. special‑operations forces to a remote Syrian village with the objective of eliminating Abu Bakr al‑Baghdadi, the head of the Islamic State (ISIS). The mission succeeded in killing the militant leader, delivering a major setback to the terrorist organization.

Upcoming White House Meeting

On Monday, President Bashar al‑Assad—who was once linked to al‑Baghdadi through early contacts—will travel to Washington, D.C., for a meeting with President Donald J. Trump at the White House. The discussion is expected to cover regional security, reconstruction efforts, and the ongoing fight against extremist groups.