The US has released footage showing part of the raid on ISIS leader Baghdadi's compound.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a raid in Syria , led by the US military but aided by SAS troops.

Aerial footage of the raid shows troops closing in on the terrorist leader's compound.

Al-Baghdadi evaded capture for nearly a decade thanks to a series of extreme security measures.

U.S. Central Command tweeted: "The individuals who planned and conducted this mission are quiet professionals, focused on their mission above glory or recognition. Committed people did hard, risky work, and they did it well."

On Saturday, Trump arrived back at the White House at roughly 4.30pm local time (10:30pm in Syria) after a round of golf in Virginia, according to his official schedule.

At around 5pm, he gathered in the White House Situation Room with Vice President Mike Pence, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, national security adviser Robert O'Brien, and other intelligence officials.

They watched the raid unfold live "as if you were watching a movie," said Trump.

The raid soon got underway with US military personnel and military dogs lifted-off in eight helicopters from an as-yet unidentified military base in the Middle East.

A US official told Reuters the operation was staged  from an airbase in western Iraq.

The on-the-ground operation in the Idlib region of Syria was supported by military aircraft and ships, said Trump. The soldiers were also equipped with a military robot but did not ultimately use it.

When they arrived at Baghdadi's compound the helicopters came under gunfire but US forces were able to quickly suppress the assault and land safely.

Believing the main compound door to be booby trapped, they entered in just seconds by blasting through the wall, said Trump.

"We were getting full reports on a minute-by-minute basis," he added.

US forces quickly cleared the compound "with people either surrendering or being shot and killed," said Trump.

Eleven children were removed, uninjured, and taken into care by a third party whom the president declined to name.

Soldiers captured and later imprisoned several Islamic State fighters.

We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.

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