Washington, Oct 28 (IANS) Demanding a briefing on the US raid in northern Syria in which Islamic State leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi was killed, top Democrat leaders have criticised President Donald Trump for taking Russia into confidence, but not the Congress, reports said.
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in a statement on Sunday night, said: “The House must be briefed on this raid, which the Russians but not top Congressional Leadership were notified of in advance, and on the Administration’s overall strategy in the region.”
She lauded “the heroism, dedication and skill of our military and our intelligence professionals and acknowledge the work of our partners in the region”, but also that the US military and allies deserve “strong, smart and strategic leadership from Washington”.
Pelosi, however, stressed “the death of this ISIS leader does not mean the death of ISIS”.
“Scores of ISIS fighters remain under uncertain conditions in Syrian prisons, and countless others in the region and around the world remain intent on spreading their influence and committing acts of terror.”
She also cited that the resolution passed in the House earlier this month rejecting Trump’s “green-lighting of Turkish aggression into Syria against our Kurdish partners” and calling on him to “present a clear strategy to defeat ISIS”.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer also said that he looks forward to receiving a briefing about the raid and the administration’s plan to deal with escaped IS prisoners.
“New Yorkers know all too well the destruction a small group of terrorists thousands of miles overseas can cause from so far away,” the Democratic Senator from New York said in a statement, adding that Al-Baghdadi’s death is a “great victory for the safety of our country and the safety of our allies and partners abroad”.
In his special address from the White House on Sunday morning in which he announced Baghdadi’s killing, Trump said that Congressional leaders, including Pelosi, were not notified of the development in advance to “avoid leaks” that could have harmed US military personnel.
According to Congressional news website The Hill, a White House spokesperson was not available to comment on whether officials plan to brief lawmakers on the raid.
–IANS
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