ISIS leader killed in U.S. military raid in Syria, Biden says
Global News
U.S. Special Operations forces successfully carried out a counter-terrorism mission in northwest Syria on Thursday, the Pentagon said, but did not share any further details.
U.S. President Joe Biden said a U.S. special forces counter-terrorism to conduct a raid in northwest Syria on Thursday targeted the leader of ISIS, adding he would address the operation in remarks later on Thursday.
“Thanks to the skill and bravery of our Armed Forces, we have taken off the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi—the leader of ISIS. All Americans have returned safely from the operation,” Biden said in a statement.
U.S. Special Operations forces successfully carried out a counter-terrorism mission in northwest Syria on Thursday, the Pentagon said, adding there were no U.S. casualties but gave no further details.
Residents of the northwest Syrian town of Atmeh and rebels fighting the Syrian government earlier reported several civilian casualties in the two-hour operation, saying the raid was believed to have targeted a suspected al Qaeda-affiliated jihadist.
“U.S. Special Operations forces under the control of U.S. Central Command conducted a counter-terrorism mission this evening in northwest Syria. The mission was successful,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a statement.
“There were no U.S. casualties. More information will be provided as it becomes available.”
Residents of Atmeh said the raid took place around midnight in a densely populated area near the border with Turkey, where tens of thousands of displaced Syrians live in makeshift camps or overcrowded housing.