4 Christian leaders react to the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Monday, October 28, 2019

President Donald J. Trump is joined by Vice President Mike Pence, National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, left; Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army General Mark A. Milley, and Brig. Gen. Marcus Evans, Deputy Director for Special Operations on the Joint Staff, at right, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, in the Situation Room of the White House monitoring developments as U.S. Special Operations forces close in on notorious ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s compound in Syria with a mission to kill or capture the terrorist. | Official White House Photo/Shealah Craighead

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday morning that notorious Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had died in a United States special forces operation.

“No [U.S.] personnel were lost in the operation, while a large number of Baghdadi’s fighters and companions were killed with him. He died after running into a dead-end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way,” explained President Trump.

“He reached the end of the tunnel, as our dogs chased him down. He ignited his vest, killing himself and the three children [with him]. His body was mutilated by the blast, the tunnel had caved in on it, in addition, but test results gave certain, immediate and totally positive identification. It was him.”

Al-Baghdadi took control of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, in 2010. Under his leadership, the group greatly expanded its territory in the Middle East.

ISIS also became known for its many disturbing acts of terrorism, including beheadings that were broadcast online and engaging in sex trafficking.

Here are what four American Christian leaders said in response to the news of the death of the ISIS leader, including a debate over whether it is appropriate to celebrate the loss of a human life.