Brett McGurck, the White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, described last night's raid that led to the death of ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi aka "Hajji Abdullah" as going "almost exactly according to plan," and said that the US would continue to conduct further operations to contain ISIS.
"It did proceed almost exactly according to plan," McGurck told CNN's Victor Blackwell, although noting the mechanical issues which led to the controlled destruction of one US helicopter.
McGurck also explained that President Biden was first briefed on the parameters of the potential mission about six weeks ago, earlier in December.
"In that first briefing in December we went through in exquisite detail what would have to take place in order to do all we possibly could to care for those families on the first floor," McGurck said, referring to the civilians in the building with the ISIS leader.
McGurck also had a warning for whoever takes over the organization following Qurayshi's death, saying that this is a "significant blow" to ISIS. He added that there would be follow up operations to continue to try and reduce ISIS' ability to conduct attacks.
"Make no mistake, whoever ISIS names after Hajji Abdullah, he is sure to meet the same fate," McGurck said.