BBC News, the Guardian, Telegraph, Times, Independent, FT, ITV News, Sky News and Reuters report that President Donald Trump has confirmed that the fugitive leader of IS killed himself during a US military operation in north-west Syria. Speaking from the White House, Trump said Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi detonated his suicide vest after fleeing into a tunnel, chased by US military dogs. Reuters reports that Iraq’s intelligence service provided the US-led coalition with the exact coordinates of al-Baghdadi’s location, while an aide to al-Baghdadi was key to his capture.

The Guardian reports that senior Democrats have reacted with anger to President Trump’s decision to sanction the al-Baghdadi raid without giving them advance notice. In a break with precedent, Trump excluded senior Democrats from the so-called Gang of Eight – the group of congressional leaders who by law are to be informed of covert actions ordered by the president – from all operational intelligence.

The Times and Reuters detail the special operation to capture al-Baghdadi.

The Independent interviews witnesses who describe the moment US troops stormed the al-Baghdadi compound: “we heard bullets, we didn’t know what was going on”.

In the Times, Michael Evans examines Delta Force, the secretive unit spearheading the “war on Is”.

BBC News, the Guardian, Telegraph, ITV News, Sky News and Reuters present a profile of al-Baghdadi: “despite the demise of its physical caliphate and its leader, IS remains a battle-hardened and well-disciplined force whose enduring defeat is not assured”.

In the Times, Hannah Lucinda Smith argues that al-Baghdadi “changed the face of terrorism”.

In the Guardian, Martin Chulov examines “how the US finally caught up with […] al-Baghdadi” and also in the Guardian, Chulov explains that al-Baghdadi’s death has come “as [a] new order takes shape in Middle East”.

In the Telegraph, Josie Ensor explains that IS had meticulously planned for the death of al-Baghdadi: “he spawned something much bigger that will likely outlive him”.

The FT explains that al-Baghdadi death is “more symbolic than damaging”.

In Sky News, Mark Stone argues that “the death of al-Baghdadi “is a key moment – but it’s not the end of the fight”.

In the Independent, Richard Hall opines that “the killing of Baghdadi is not Trump’s to claim, and his Syria policy may yet breathe life back into Is”.

In the Times, Ben Hoyle argues that the death of al-Baghdadi represents an opportunity for President Trump to regain initiative.

In the Telegraph, Raffaello Pantucci argues that the death of al-Baghdadi “could make a fragmented IS more dangerous”.

In the Telegraph, Con Coughlin argues that “al-Baghdadi’s annihilation will have gone some way to restoring Donald Trump’s standing”.

BBC News interviews Kurds in north Syria: “The world has closed its eyes on us”.

The Independent presents a timeline of the IS project.

The Independent reports that President Trump has threatened to “drop” captured IS fighters on the UK border if the government does not start repatriating them from Syrian camps. Speaking at a press conference where he announced the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Trump called European nations a “tremendous disappointment”.

Reuters reports that the SDF said on Sunday that it had agreed to withdraw more than 30 km (19 miles) from the Turkish border, an announcement welcomed by Damascus which said Turkey should now end its “aggression” in northeast Syria.

The Independent reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to send millions of refugees to Europe if countries do not back his “safe zone” proposals. Doubling down on his recent abrasive rhetoric, Erdogan warned he would “open the gates” for asylum seekers.

The Guardian and Reuters report that Lebanese protesters have formed a human chain running from the south to the north of the country to symbolise national unity. Tension has mounted in recent days between security forces and protesters, who have brought the country to a standstill.

Reuters reports that the IMF has stated that it is assessing an emergency reform package announced by Lebanon’s government last week and stressed reforms should be implemented urgently given high debt levels and fiscal deficits.

The Guardian and Reuters report that Iraqi protesters occupied Tahrir square on Sunday, defying a bloody crackdown that killed scores over the weekend and an overnight raid by security forces seeking to disperse them. Throughout the day, security forces fired teargas at groups wearing heavy duty gloves who rushed at the canisters and threw them back.

In the Independent, Rasha Al Aqeedi examines the “stories behind Iraq’s deadly mass protests”.

The FT reports that the Yemeni government and southern secessionists have agreed a preliminary deal aimed at preventing a return to violence in the south. The Riyadh Agreement, brokered by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, is expected to be signed at in Riyadh, people briefed on the deal said.

Reuters reports that President Trump’s suggestion that on Sunday that Exxon Mobil or another US oil company operate Syrian oil fields drew rebukes from legal and energy experts: “International law seeks to protect against exactly this sort of exploitation”.

Reuters reports that President Trump’s top negotiator for Afghanistan was in Kabul on Sunday to brief the Afghan president on peace efforts.

The Independent reports that a Bahraini activist who was jailed after criticising Formula One’s Grand Prix in the country has said she contemplated suicide after suffering rape and abuse at the hands of state authorities. Najah Yusuf was imprisoned in April 2017 after condemning the Bahrain Grand Prix and human rights abuses in the Gulf state.

The FT reports that Riyadh is struggling to close a valuation gap ahead of the long-awaited listing of Saudi Aramco.

US team visits Israel

The Israeli media report that the US team, led by Jared Kushner, will today today meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz in Jerusalem. Kushner is accompanied on this trip by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the new US Middle East envoy Avi Berkowitz, who replaced Jason Greenblatt, and the US special envoy to Iran Brian Hook.  It is still unclear if and when the US will release their plan for Israeli-Palestinian talks, this trip is thought to be an opportunity for them to assess the political situation in Israel. It will be the first time the US officials will meet Gantz. On Tuesday the US team will travel to Saudi Arabia to attend an economic conference.

IDF Chief of Staff reprimands two senior officers for “severe operational incident” 

The Israeli media report that IDF Chief of Staff Lt-Gen Aviv Kochavi officially reprimanded two officers; a battalion commander and his deputy stationed on the Lebanese border. It followed the incident on 1 September when Hezbollah fired three anti-tank missiles into Israel that only narrowly missed an IDF vehicle left exposed on a border road. The attack had been anticipated as a response to an earlier strike by the Israel Air Force on several targets near Damascus, which killed three Hezbollah operatives, and effectively prevented a drone attack on Israeli targets. As a result, the IDF banned military vehicles from traveling along certain roads close to the Lebanese border. The investigation found the officers failed to comply with instructions and allowed an armoured medical vehicle with 5 people inside to drive along an exposed border road.

Qatari cash arrives in Gaza

The Times of Israel reports that, according to Doha’s Gaza Reconstruction Committee, banks in the Gaza Strip began yesterday to distribute funds to needy families from the money received from Qatar. For the last year, banks have distributed $100 cash handouts several times to tens of thousands of impoverished Gazans. Israel allows the funding project as part of the ceasefire understandings. The Jerusalem Post reports that the chairman of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission Hanna Nasir arrived in the Gaza Strip yesterday for talks with Hamas leaders and other Palestinian factions about parliamentary elections. Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas announced at the UN General Assembly in September his intention to hold elections in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The last parliamentary elections were held in 2006. The paper says analysts were sceptical that the elections would be held due to the ongoing dispute between Fatah and Hamas.