US President Donald Trump marked Veterans’ Day on Monday by celebrating the operation to kill ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi and said that the group’s new leader was firmly in America’s crosshairs.
While US presidents traditionally mark the day by laying a wreath at the vast Arlington military cemetery outside Washington, Mr Trump travelled to New York where he made an address before the city's annual parade of veterans.
Mr Trump was widely criticised after announcing a full withdrawal of US troops from Syria last month, with opponents and even some allies saying it could allow ISIS to rebuild. It also leaves US-allied Kurdish fighters vulnerable to an ongoing Turkish invasion.
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People carry a giant American flag up Fifth Avenue during the New York City Veterans Day Parade. AP -
President Donald Trump is the first sitting US president to attend New York's parade. AFP -
Members of the New York City Police Department march in the Veterans Day Parade on November 11, 2019 in New York City. AFP -
A man dressed as Uncle Sam marches in the Veterans Day Parade. AFP -
People watch as US Marines march in the Veterans Day Parade. AFP -
World War I American infantry reenactors march in the Veterans Day Parade. AFP -
Letters put up in the windows of an office block overlooking the stage where President Donald Trump will address the veterans’ day parade spell out “IMPEACH”. AFP
But Mr Trump used his speech in New York to claim that the ISIS leadership was running scared after Al Baghdadi's death. The ISIS leader was killed in a raid in the north-west Syrian province of Idlib on October 26.
"Just a few weeks ago, American special forces raided the ISIS compound and brought the world's number one terrorist leader to justice," he said.
"Thanks to American warriors, Al Baghdadi is dead, his second in charge is dead, we have our eyes on number three.
"His reign of terror is over, and we have our enemies running very, very scared. Those who threaten our people don't stand a chance against the righteous might of the American military."
After the death of Al Baghdadi and ISIS's main spokesman, Abu Hassan Al Muhajir, in a raid the following day, the organisation named the little known Abu Ibrahim Al Hashimi Al Quraishi as its new leader.
Following the uproar over his announcement of a full troop withdrawal, Mr Trump said that he would leave some troops in the region to protect valuable oilfields.
Gen Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in an interview at the weekend that US troop levels in northern Syria would probably stabilise around 500.
Mr Trump got a cool reception from some in New York, a staunchly Democratic city.
In one of the glass office towers looming above Madison Square Park where he spoke, large letters were taped to a row of windows spelling out, "IMPEACH," and, several floors above, "CONVICT."
Anti-Trump banners were suspended from overlooking apartment windows as he kicked off the parade and people on the street chanted "lock him up."
