TTO – On November 25, U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed a very special guest to the White House: Conan – the military working dog who participated in the operation that led to the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

President Trump awards medal to Conan, the dog who helped take down ISIS leader – Photo 1

President Donald Trump, along with Vice President Mike Pence and First Lady Melania Trump, greeted Conan at the White House on November 25 – Photo: REUTERS

According to Reuters, speaking to the press on the steps leading to the White House garden, while standing beside First Lady Melania, Vice President Mike Pence, Conan, and the dog’s handler, President Trump said:

“This is Conan. Right now, he might be the most famous dog in the world.”

“We’re very honored to have Conan here and we’ve given Conan a certificate and an award,” Trump added.

According to UPI, President Trump stated that the White House had awarded Conan with a medal and a commemorative certificate recognizing his service.

“I really believe Conan knows exactly what’s going on,” Trump said, describing Conan as “very, very special.”

“Conan is truly a hero,” Vice President Mike Pence added. Conan was injured during the operation to track and eliminate the ISIS leader.

President Trump jokingly told reporters that the heroic dog Conan was “in a very good mood” – Video: REUTERS

Both Trump and Pence noted that they had met with the members of the special forces team involved in the mission, but for safety reasons, those individuals could not appear publicly. They expressed how pleased they were to welcome Conan to the White House.

ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died last month after detonating a suicide vest while being pursued by U.S. special forces down a tunnel during his attempted escape.

Marine General Kenneth McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East, previously reported that Baghdadi had taken two of his young children with him into the tunnel.

General McKenzie stated that both children, believed to be under 12 years old, died alongside Baghdadi when he triggered the explosive vest.