The mole inside ISIS who betrayed leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and helped lead American troops to his compound in northern Syria wanted to avenge the harsh treatment of his family, the commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said.
Gen. Mazloum Abdi told NBC News that “the spy followed Baghdadi for months as he moved around various safe houses until the ISIS leader reached a position where a quick escape was practically impossible”. The mole hasn’t been identified but he’s believed to be an Arab who had many relatives in ISIS. “I think he was under a lot of pressure from his family,” the general said.
“His relatives were subjected to harsh treatment by ISIS and he no longer believed in the future of ISIS. He wanted to take revenge on ISIS and Baghdadi himself.” Abdi said the spy was at the compound when U.S. Special Forces attacked, but he “returned safely with the American forces,” and will now likely receive all or part of the $25 million bounty for Baghdadi’s head.
The spy was in a unique and extremely rare position to exact his revenge. “He was, you could say, a security official,” the general said. “A personal security official for al-Baghdadi himself, in charge of al-Baghdadi’s movements. “
Part of the informant’s job, Abdi said, was “securing the places” where al-Baghdadi would later hide.
This ISIS spy memorized the locations and layouts of al-Baghdadi’s safe houses and even stole samples of the world’s most wanted terrorist’s blood and clothing for DNA analysis, he said.
“His direct family, the children, his relatives, his siblings, they are formed a tight ring around him,” Abdi said. The ISIS leader only allowed a small group of outsiders to meet him. One of them was the spy.
“His direct family, the children, his relatives, his siblings, they are formed a tight ring around him,” Abdi told NBC. One of the few allowed to meet with him was the informant.
The spy was at the compound when U.S. forces began their hours-long assault. Though several others died, the informant was “returned safely with the American forces,” Abdi said.
