World leaders react to news of al-Baghdadi's killing in US raid
dpa
WASHINGTON (dpa)- World leaders reacted on Sunday to President Donald Trump's announcement that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a US military raid in Syria.
Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei said in a tweet in Farsi that al-Baghdadi's death did not mark the end of the terror group, just as Osama bin Laden's killing failed to eradicate terrorism.
Responding to a tweet by Trump, Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, Iran's information and communications technology minister, posted: "Not a big deal! You just killed your creature."
"The death of al-Baghdadi is a hard blow against Daesh (IS) but it is just a stage. The fight will continue with our partners in the international coalition to ensure that the terror organization is finally defeated," French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump in a statement, saying the news "reflects our shared determination, of the United States and all free states, to fight terrorist organizations and terrorist states."
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the announcement "is a significant step in our efforts against international terrorism. NATO remains committed to the fight against our common enemy ISIS."
"The death of Baghdadi is an important moment in our fight against terror but the battle against the evil of Daesh is not yet over," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted, adding: "We will work with our coalition partners to bring an end to the murderous, barbaric activities of Daesh once and for all."
Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod called the news an "important step" in the fight against terrorism, while former Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said al-Baghdadi's death was "undoubtedly important."
---------------------------------------------------------------------