(Washington Insider Magazine)– Three top Islamic State leaders were killed by American forces in 2 separate military raids in Syria on Thursday, including an unusual ground attack in a region of the northeast that is under the authority of the Syrian regime, according to American authorities.
Officials claim that US special operations soldiers killed IS rebel Rakkan Wahid al Shamman, wounded another, and captured two more during a raid in the village of Qamishli.
According to ABC NEWS, the U.S. carried out an attack in northern Syria later on Thursday, killing Abu Ala, the second-ranking Islamic State leader there, and Abu Mu’ad al Qahtani.
According to a U.S. official, the ground operation was carried out by a small contingent of American soldiers who were deployed near Qamishli for less than an hour. The United States rarely conducts missions on the ground governed by Syrian President Bashar Assad. The officials discussed specifics of the raid under the condition of anonymity.
Al Shamman had a reputation for facilitating the transportation of militants and weapons to support Islamic State activities, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command. The statement claims that no American soldiers nor civilians were hurt or killed during the raid.
The airstrike’s further details were not disclosed.
About 900 American troops are still stationed in Syria to train and assist the Syrian Democratic Forces in their battle with the Islamic State group.
For the first time in a long time, according to a U.S. official, the U.S. did not inform Russia of the operation and presence of its troops via their deconfliction phone line. The officer, who requested anonymity in order to discuss specifics, claimed that operational security issues rather than Russia’s attack on Ukraine were to blame for the absence of deconfliction.
When American forces are in the northeastern part of Syria, where Russian forces also operate, Russia and the U.S. have used the deconfliction line to prevent any potential incidents or accidents.
