QAMISHLI, Syria, Oct 6 (Reuters) – A uncommon U.S. helicopter raid on a government-held village in Syria’s northeast killed an Islamic State militant hiding on the market and a separate U.S. air strike afterward Thursday killed two others, the U.S. army mentioned.
The USA has carried out earlier raids in Syria in opposition to members of Islamic State, however Thursday’s can be the primary recognized operation in opposition to the group in a zone held by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.
Early on Thursday, U.S. particular forces carried out the uncommon operation on the government-held village of Muluk Saray within the northeastern province of Hasakeh, Syrian state tv mentioned in its Telegram channel.
Register now for FREE limitless entry to Reuters.com
The U.S. army’s Central Command mentioned the goal was Rakkan Wahid al-Shammri, an Islamic State member “recognized to facilitate the smuggling of weapons and fighters.” It mentioned he was killed throughout the operation, whereas certainly one of his associates was wounded and two others detained by U.S. forces.
“No U.S. forces had been injured or killed throughout the operation, no civilians had been killed or wounded, and there was no loss or harm to U.S. tools,” mentioned the Florida-based Central Command, which oversees American troops within the Center East.
It didn’t specify the exact location of the raid, describing it solely as close to the village of Qamishli, which is positioned at Syria’s border with Turkey.
Central Command afterward Thursday mentioned a separate U.S. air strike at 6:32 pm (1532 GMT) in northern Syria killed an Islamic State chief it named as Abu-Hashum al-Umawi and one other senior member of the group it mentioned was related to him.
‘PEOPLE THOUGHT HE WAS A SHEPHERD’
A safety supply mentioned the person who was killed within the earlier U.S. raid was accountable for coordinating Islamic State sleeper cells within the space.
“This operation goals to develop the scope of concentrating on this organisation’s members throughout totally different elements of Syria,” the supply added.
The second safety supply mentioned U.S. forces had taken his physique with them as they retreated.
An area 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 realm confirmed the raid to Reuters.
One mentioned that U.S. helicopters landed within the village after midnight and advised residents by loudspeaker to remain indoors and hold their lights off. The resident mentioned the operation lasted a number of hours and that there was no trade of fireplace with the U.S. troops.
Register now for FREE limitless entry to Reuters.com
Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi in Amman, Lina Najem in Dubaim, Orhan Qereman in Qamishli and Phil Stewart in Washington; Writing by Maya Gebeily; Modifying by Deepa Babington and Christopher Cushing
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.
