Department of Defense Press Briefing on the al-Baghdadi Raid

Reporting cited here

1. documented

   CENTCOM commander Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said Donald Trump was extensively briefed on the al-Baghdadi raid plan and its execution risks on October 25, 2019, and approved the operation.

   Opening statement and October 25 approval chronology

   Trump approves the raid plan targeting Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi · Trump approved the raid plan on October 25, 2019; the operation began the next day

2. documented

   CENTCOM reported that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi detonated an explosive vest as U.S. forces closed in, killing himself and two children; later Associated Press reporting preserves the corrected count of two children rather than Trump's initial count of three.

   CENTCOM casualty correction and raid outcome

   Baghdadi detonates a vest during the raid, killing himself and two children · Baghdadi and two children died during the October 26, 2019 raid