Kentucky native led operation that brought down ISIS leader
A native of Trigg County led the U.S. command that raided Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s compound on Saturday.
Lt. Gen. Scott Howell is the 15th commander of Joint Special Operations Command and was responsible for carrying out the Syrian attack that led to the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Howell, born in Cadiz, was congratulated Sunday by U.S. Rep James Comer, who represents the 1st District.
President Donald Trump appointed Howell last year to commander of the Joint Special Operations Command, which is based out of U.S. Army base Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Howell is the first Air Force officer to lead the command.
A career helicopter pilot, Howell has participated in operations in Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia, Haiti, Kosovo, Mozambique, Djibouti and Afghanistan, according to his Air Force biography. He previously served as the U.S. Special Operations Command vice commander.
Trump said Sunday that al-Baghdadi was cornered in a tunnel with three of his children, and he detonated a suicide vest that killed himself and three children.
“He was a sick and depraved man, and now he’s gone,” Trump said of the ISIS leader. “He died like a dog; he died like a coward.”
Trump called al-Baghdadi the world’s No. 1 terrorist leader.
Gov. Matt Bevin and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell both commented Monday about how proud they are of Howell.
“Lt. Gen. Howell is a career Air Force pilot who has spent his career deploying with and commanding special operations forces,” McConnell said. “Our nation is lucky to have this son of the Bluegrass serving where he is.”
“As Kentuckians and as Americans, we owe a deep dept of gratitude to Lt. Gen. Howell and all the valiant men and women in our military and intelligence communities who sacrifice so much to keep us safe,” Bevin said.
According to Newsweek, the Joint Special Operations Command’s Delta Team carried out Saturdays’ operation after receiving reports of al-Baghdadi’s location. The same command is credited with coordinating the raid that resulted in Osama bin Laden’s death in 2011.
This story was originally published October 28, 2019 at 8:20 AM.