White House releases video of ISIS leader takedown


Listen To Story Above

In an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, Dr. Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council, revealed plans to release footage of Saturday morning’s successful operation against a high-ranking Islamic State terrorist in northern Somalia.

Speaking via phone after the operation, Gorka explained that teams from the White House Situation Room, National Security Council’s Counterterrorism Directorate, and Defense Department are currently preparing the footage for public release. The goal is to make the video showing the destruction of the cave complex available in an unclassified format for presentation at upcoming press briefings.

“To see it in real time, look, let me say this—it’s as if you’re in a movie but it’s so much more important because it isn’t a movie. It’s not special effects,” he explained. “It’s real, and American lives are being saved 11 days into the Trump administration.”

The White House’s decision to release the footage serves multiple purposes, including demonstrating the administration’s swift action on security promises to voters. Additionally, Gorka emphasized that making the operation public could deter potential terrorists and discourage ISIS recruitment efforts.

The president announced the successful strike earlier Saturday, targeting what he described as a “Senior ISIS Attack Planner and other terrorists he recruited and led in Somalia.” U.S. Africa Command confirmed the operation’s success, stating that multiple ISIS-Somalia operatives were eliminated without civilian casualties.

Gorka detailed that the target was a high-value ISIS leader who had established a complex cave system in northern Somalia. The terrorist network had developed this location as a refuge, comprising more than six interconnected caves. The operation targeted an individual responsible for recruiting, training, and deploying jihadists for attacks against Western targets, including the United States.

The strike came together rapidly after being presented to Trump on Thursday evening. According to Gorka, the president authorized the operation immediately upon confirmation that the target posed a significant threat to American citizens and servicemembers. The authorization document was signed with Trump’s characteristic Sharpie pen on the Resolute Desk, leading to execution within 48 hours.

Military and security professionals expressed enthusiasm about the administration’s decisive action, Gorka noted. He shared that one operator revealed widespread frustration during the previous administration, where surveillance teams would track dangerous targets for extended periods without authorization to act.

“These people are so, so incredibly grateful to President Trump and to National Security Adviser Waltz because we did this—think of this—where the president took this decision on Thursday, 11 days into the administration,” Gorka said. “So we fixed a four-year problem in 11 working days. They are just so grateful.”

The operation, conducted with support from Somalia’s government, represents what Gorka described as a broader America First strategy in action. He emphasized that this cooperative approach demonstrates the administration’s commitment to effective international security partnerships while maintaining American interests as the priority.

Previous articleMedical Flight Crashes In Philadelphia, Killing Everyone Aboard
Next articleFormer CIA Chief misled public about Trump and Russia