The Life and Death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

<p>After a five-year international manhunt, the leader of the Islamic State, who at one point controlled a caliphate the size of Britain, was killed in a raid by elite United States forces in Syria over the weekend.</p><p>Today, we explore the life and death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi — and the legacy he leaves behind. Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/rukmini-callimachi?module=inline?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank">Rukmini Callimachi</a>, who covers terrorism and the Islamic State for The Times, in conversation with<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/natalie-kitroeff?smid=pc-thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> Natalie Kitroeff</a>. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. </p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>Kurdish forces were essential in the mission to track and identify Mr. al-Baghdadi. President Trump’s decision to withdraw American troops from northern Syria<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/28/world/middleeast/isis-kurds-baghdadi.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> threw the operation into turmoil</a>.</li><li>Some<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/28/world/middleeast/isis-al-baghdadi-death.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> survivors of Islamic State brutality said</a> Mr. al-Baghdadi’s death came too late. “He deserves a worse and more abhorrent death,” one added.</li></ul>