US soldiers are seen during a joint military exercise between US-led forces and members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province on September 7, 2022. © Delil Souleiman, AFP
US forces on Thursday killed three senior Islamic State leaders in two military operations in Syria, including a rare ground attack in a part of the northeast controlled by the Syrian regime.
According to officials, US forces raided the Syrian village of Kamishli, killing Islamic State rebel Raqqan Wahid al-Shaman, injuring another and capturing two others.
Later on Thursday, the US launched an airstrike in northern Syria, killing number 2 Islamic State leader Abu Ala in Syria and Abu Mu'ad al-Qahtani, another IS leader, officials said.
However, the US does not conduct any missions in the territory controlled by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the details of the raid.
US Central Command has reported that al-Shaman supported Islamic State operations and was working to facilitate the smuggling of weapons and fighters. According to the statement, no civilians or American soldiers were harmed or injured in the raid.