Senior ISIL leader killed by US special forces in Syria raid

Senior ISIL leader killed by US special forces in Syria raid
By Euronews
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The United States says its special forces have killed a senior leader of the Islamic State militant group during a raid in eastern Syria. The

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The United States says its special forces have killed a senior leader of the Islamic State militant group during a raid in eastern Syria.

The operation, ordered by President Obama, was carried out by US commandos based in Iraq.

The ISIL leader known as Abu Sayyaf was killed during exchanges with US forces according to the Obama administration which says Sayyaf was involved in ISIL’s military activity as well as helping run its illicit oil, gas, and financial operations.

US special forces kill Isis commander and capture wife in Syria raid http://t.co/6m4SlbxGv5

— The Guardian (@guardian) May 16, 2015

He wife, Umm Sayyaf, suspected of also being an ISIL member, was captured in the raid and is now being held in Iraq.

A White House National Security Council spokeswoman said a young Yazidi woman who appeared to have been kept as a slave by the couple was rescued.

The US says none of its forces were killed or injured during the raid in al-Amr.

In a statement issued by the US Department of Defense, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said: “The operation represents another significant blow to ISIL, and it is a reminder that the United States will never waver in denying safe haven to terrorists who threaten our citizens, and those of our friends and allies.”

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