Thread by @AFP

#BREAKING IS leader blew himself up during US raid in Syria: US official

#UPDATE US special forces carried out a nighttime airborne raid on Thursday in northwestern Syria during which the head of the Islamic State group blew himself and his family up, the White House says u.afp.com/wfr7

#BREAKING Biden says death of IS leader during US raid in Syria 'removed a major terrorist threat to the world'

#UPDATE President Joe Biden said on Thursday that a global "terrorist threat" was removed when the head of the Islamic State group blew himself up after US special forces swooped on his Syrian hideout in a nighttime helicopter raid u.afp.com/wfr7