US President Donald Trump said in a tweet on October 27 that he would make a very important statement. CNN and ABC announced that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been targeted and killed in an operation carried out by the US military in northern and eastern Syria.

The final confirmation is pending while DNA and biometric testing is conducted, both sources tell CNN.

The defense official said it appears that Baghdadi detonated a suicide vest during the raid.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to make a major announcement Sunday at 9 a.m., White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley announced.

An administration official tells CNN that the announcement is foreign policy related.

SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi said on his twitter account: "Successful and historical operation due to a joint intelligence work with the United States of America."