UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- A UN spokesman said on Monday that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the progress against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group brought by the death of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Asked for comment on al-Baghdadi's death, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said, "We've taken note of the announcement by the president of the United States on the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the UN-designated terrorist group Daesh."
"Daesh has committed heinous crimes and brought tragedy and death to thousands of men, women and children. And we should take this moment to remember the victims and families of victims of terrorism everywhere in the world," said Haq.
Daesh is the Arabic-language acronym of the IS.
Pressed by another reporter to articulate the UN secretary-general's opinion on al-Baghdadi's death rather than just taking note, Haq said, "We've made very clear that any progress against Daesh is to be welcomed."
The secretary-general and the many branches of the United Nations have repeatedly urged all member states to work together in the fight against Daesh. And any progress is to be commended, said Haq.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday announced al-Baghdadi's death in a U.S. Special Operations Forces raid targeting al-Baghdadi in northwest Syria.
