Secret U.S. raid sought to capture Baghdadi - U.S. defence secretary

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. special operations raid into northwest Syria sought to capture Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi if possible, but kill him if necessary, U.S. Defence Secretary Mark Esper said on Sunday.

"We tried to call (Baghdadi) out and ask him to surrender himself. He refused and went down into a subterranean area and in the process of trying to get him out, he detonated a suicide vest, we believe, and killed himself," Esper told CNN.