Pentagon on alert for ‘retribution attacks’

The general who oversaw the U.S. raid on Islamic State leader Abu Bakr alBaghdadi provided the most detailed account yet of the operation Wednesday and said the U.S. is on alert for possible “retribution attacks” by extremists.

Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, said alBaghdadi’s remains were buried at sea within 24 hours of his death inside an underground tunnel where he fled as special operations soldiers closed in on him.

The Pentagon released the first government photos and video clips of the nighttime operation, including one showing Delta Force commandos approaching the walls of the compound in which alBaghdadi and others were found.

Another video showed American airstrikes on other militants who fired at helicopters carrying soldiers to the compound. The U.S. also bombed the compound after the soldiers completed the mission so that it would not stand as a shrine to alBaghdadi.

“It looks pretty much like a parking lot with large potholes right now,” McKenzie said.