Uncommon U.S. raid in Syrian govt-held zone kills Islamic State commander -sources By Reuters

By Orhan Qereman and Suleiman Al-Khalidi

QAMISHLI, Syria (Reuters) -A uncommon U.S. helicopter raid on a government-held village in Syria’s northeast killed an Islamic State official hiding on the market on Thursday, two safety sources and a U.S. official mentioned.

America has carried out earlier raids in Syria in opposition to members of Islamic State, however Thursday’s can be the primary recognized operation in a zone held by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.

Early on Thursday, U.S. particular forces carried out a uncommon operation on the government-held village of Muluk Saray within the northeastern province of Hasakeh, Syrian state tv mentioned in its Telegram channel.

It mentioned one individual was killed and others had been captured. It gave no additional particulars on their identities.

A U.S. official, talking on situation of anonymity, mentioned one Islamic State official was killed, one other member was wounded and two folks had been detained within the U.S. raid. The raid focused an Islamic State member answerable for beheading members of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, the U.S. official added.

The U.S. Central Command confirmed earlier on Thursday that U.S. forces focused an Islamic State operative however didn’t instantly supply extra data.

Two safety sources instructed Reuters that the person who was killed was an Islamic State official wished by the US.

“The airborne operation focused a key IS chief current within the areas managed by the Syrian authorities. It was profitable,” one of many safety sources mentioned.

The supply mentioned the person who was killed was answerable for coordinating throughout Islamic State sleeper cells within the space.

‘PEOPLE THOUGHT HE WAS A SHEPHERD’

“This operation goals to increase the scope of concentrating on this organisation’s members throughout completely different elements of Syria,” the supply added.

The second supply confirmed the person killed was an Islamic State official and mentioned the U.S. forces had taken his physique with them as they retreated.

A neighborhood supply mentioned the person had moved to the village of Muluk Saray in recent times from Taif, a city close to the border with Iraq that was as soon as an Islamic State stronghold.

“Folks thought he was a shepherd – nobody is aware of his true identification,” mentioned the supply.

The native supply mentioned U.S. forces additionally raided a constructing utilized by Syrian safety and detained “a number of folks” there.

Different residents of the world confirmed the raid to Reuters.

One mentioned that U.S. helicopters landed within the village after midnight and instructed residents by loudspeaker to remain indoors and preserve their lights off. The resident mentioned the operation lasted a number of hours and that there was no change of fireside with the U.S. troops.