'Talented' US military dog wounded during raid on Baghdadi: Trump

Washington: US military dogs chased the elusive Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi down a dark underground tunnel in northern Syria before the ISIS chief detonated a suicide vest that injured one of the specialised dogs, according to President Donald Trump.

Baghdadi, the ISIS leader who had a USD 25 million bounty on his head, died ON Saturday evening after US-led special forces raided his compound in Idlib Province, where he was hiding along with members of his family and some close aides.

Trump, who watched the whole operation live from the White House Situation Room, said Baghdadi spent his final moments "crying, "whimpering" and "screaming" after being cornered by US forces along with the military dogs.

"He reached the end of the tunnel, as our dogs chased him, Trump told reporters at an unusual press conference on Sunday at the White House.

"He (Baghdadi) ignited his vest, killing himself and the three children," Trump said.

He said neither the US military dogs nor the American soldiers died in the raid. "Our 'K-9,' as they call it," Trump said, "I call it a dog. A beautiful dog a talented dog was injured and brought back."