Why it matters: A man who inspired mass murder and multinational terrorism is now dead. The killing also, ironically, underscores the importance and effectiveness of U.S. special forces stationed in Syria, a couple weeks after Trump said it was time to bring them all home and end the endless wars.

The big picture: The al-Baghdadi raid demonstrates value of continued U.S. engagement in the region, and helps explain why Iraq’s president and others are so worried about Trump’s planned retreat.