US special operations forces captured 'two adult males' in al-Baghdadi raid: Pentagon originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

America's top military officer said that U.S. special operations forces captured "two adult males" during the weekend raid where the founder and leader of the Islamic State died.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley revealed in a Pentagon press conference on Monday that two men were "taken off the objective alive," saying, "They're in (U.S.) custody."

(MORE: President Trump says ISIS leader al-Baghdadi is dead after US military raid in Syria)

In an address to the nation from the White House on Sunday, President Donald Trump announced that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been killed during a U.S. military raid carried out by joint special operations forces. Nearly 100 U.S. troops were transported by eight Chinook helicopters to al-Baghdadi's compound in northwestern Syria near the town of Idlib that Milley described as an "area [Baghdadi] was staying on a consistent basis."

PHOTO: A satellite view of the reported residence of ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, collected on September 28, 2019, is shown in this handout image released on October 27, 2019 by Maxar Technologies. (Maxar Technologies/Handout via Reuters) More

Despite Trump saying earlier on Monday that he was considering releasing some footage of the raid, the Pentagon did not show any video or imagery during the briefing, but Milley told reporters that material was in the process of declassification. The general would also not confirm the president's description of al-Baghdadi "whimpering and crying" in his final moments, saying that while Trump may have spoken with U.S. commanders on the ground, he has not.

Defense Sec. Mark Esper: "Baghdadi's death will not rid the world of terrorism or end the ongoing conflict in Syria, but it will certainly send a message to those who question America's resolve and provide a warning to terrorists who think they can hide." https://t.co/FtgwWdyPfx pic.twitter.com/ZiNnidNf98 — ABC News (@ABC) October 28, 2019

Asked whether al-Baghdadi's body had been buried at sea, Milley would only say that the "disposal of his remains" is "complete and was handled appropriately," following additional DNA identification at a secure facility.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced that U.S. troops will "remain positioned" in the Deir ez-Zor area of eastern Syria to guard oil fields in order to deny ISIS access to those resources.

"That's our mission, to secure the oil fields," Esper said without providing details of how many American service members would be deployed there.

(MORE: Trump says he's considering releasing video of raid in which ISIS leader died )

The U.S. will "respond with overwhelming military force against any group who threatens the safety of our forces there," he added.

The death of al-Baghdadi has highlighted the importance of having U.S. troops in the region and in Syria specifically to defend against an ISIS resurgence after the president decided to pull about 1,000 U.S. forces from northeastern Syria following a Turkish incursion along the border.

"Trump described yesterday Baghdadi whimpering and crying before he died. Can you elaborate or confirm?" Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley: “I don’t know what the source of that was, but I assume it was talking directly to unit members.” https://t.co/TzJcuPpyEw pic.twitter.com/fVVMYz2BLM — ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) October 28, 2019

Asked about how difficult the al-Baghdadi raid would have been without American service members in Syria and Iraq, Esper said the U.S. military has "incredible reach."

"We can strike anybody, anytime, anywhere," he said.

PHOTO: An aerial view taken on on October 27, 2019, shows the site that was hit by helicopter gunfire which reportedly killed nine people near the northwestern Syrian village of Barisha in the Idlib province along the border with Turkey. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images) More

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