ISIS Leader Killing- U.S. Helicopter Malfunctions, Destroyed

A helicopter used as part of the operation to kill ISIS leader Hajji Abdullah in Syria on February 2 was destroyed after it malfunctioned.

“One of our helicopters did suffer a mechanical failure early on in the infiltration phase of the operation. The helicopter was able to depart the target location and land at another location further away off-site. But ultimately, it was determined that further use of the helicopter was not practical, and in fact, could be dangerous. And so General McKenzie made the decision that the helicopter should be abandoned and detonated so it could be destroyed in place,” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said during a briefing Thursday.

The incident is reminiscent of the loss of a helicopter during the killing of Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan in 2011 when a chopper carrying special forces operatives lost power and crashed against the wall of the ISIS leader’s compound.

While the U.S. claims that the Abdullah blew himself up killing three civilians who were near him, Syrian media reported that U.S. forces raided several houses 13 persons, among them several children and women.

Kirby further said that U.S. forces were able to safely evacuate 10 individuals, six from the first floor -- an adult male, an adult female and -- and four children, and then four children from the second floor, which our forces were able to safely get -- to get out of the building.

On that second floor, where one of Abdullah's lieutenants and his wife engaged with U.S. forces -- and were killed. Besides, a child was also killed on that second floor.