Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on the day's biggest business stories
Subscribe to Axios Closer for insights into the day’s business news and trends and why they matter
Stay on top of the latest market trends
Subscribe to Axios Markets for the latest market trends and economic insights. Sign up for free.
Sports news worthy of your time
Binge on the stats and stories that drive the sports world with Axios Sports. Sign up for free.
Tech news worthy of your time
Get our smart take on technology from the Valley and D.C. with Axios Login. Sign up for free.
Get the inside stories
Get an insider's guide to the new White House with Axios Sneak Peek. Sign up for free.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Want a daily digest of the top Denver news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Want a daily digest of the top Des Moines news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Want a daily digest of the top Twin Cities news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Want a daily digest of the top Tampa Bay news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Want a daily digest of the top Charlotte news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Want a daily digest of the top Nashville news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Nashville newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Columbus news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Columbus newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Dallas news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Dallas newsletter.
Sign up for Axios NW Arkansas
Stay up-to-date on the most important and interesting stories affecting NW Arkansas, authored by local reporters
White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that the operation against ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was named after humanitarian aid worker Kayla Mueller, who was captured and enslaved by ISIS in 2013.
"We finally brought justice to a man that beheaded the three Americans, two journalists and a humanitarian worker. Kayla Mueller was working as a humanitarian worker — a great, young, American, idealistic girl. And one of the things Gen. Milley did is Gen. Milley named the operation that took down al-Baghdadi after Kayla Mueller."— Robert O'Brien
Context: The 26-year-old Mueller was taken hostage by ISIS in August 2013 while doing relief work with Syrian refugees. U.S. officials said Baghdadi repeatedly raped Mueller while she was held in his compound. In February 2015, Mueller's family and the White House said in separate statements that she had died — one of four American hostages killed while held by ISIS.
The big picture: Diane Foley, mother of journalist James Foley who was beheaded by ISIS in 2014, issued a statement on Baghdadi's death on behalf of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation.
“I am grateful to our President and brave troops for finding ISIS leader Al-Baghdadi. I hope this will hinder the resurgence of terror groups and pray that captured ISIS fighters will be brought to trial and held accountable.
I remain concerned about the dozen Americans held hostage in Syria, including Austin Tice and Majd Kamalmaz.
And I ask President Trump to make them, and all American hostages, a priority."
Go deeper: Trump says he didn't inform Democrats of Baghdadi raid because of potential leaks