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04/18/2024 12:29:23 pm

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U.S. Kills Top ISIS Commander, 12 Enemy Fighters, Woman Slave Freed In Syria Raid

During a rare raid in Syria on Friday, U.S. Special Operations Forces have killed a senior leader of ISIS, as well as freed a woman appeared to be a a slave in his household, said Secretary of Defense Ash Carter Saturday.

Abu Sayyaf, also known as Mohammed Shalabi, "was killed during the course of the operation when he engaged U.S. forces," Carter said.

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Carter ordered the raid after a go signal from President Barack Obama.

Umm Sayyaf, Sayyaf's wife, had also been captured during the major operation inside eastern Syria. She was accused of being "directly complicit in (ISIS) activities, specifically human trafficking, the National Security Council said in a statement.

She is now held in Iraq for interrogation and is secluded from other prisoners, reported USA Today.

The operation not only led to the death of the top ISIS member and the capture of his wife, a young Yazidi woman who appears to have been held as a slave by the couple was also freed, the White House said in a statement.

The operation in the eastern Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor had been preplanned. It was supposed to be a snatch and grab mission to capture the ISIS leader alive. However, he had been killed while a gun battle and hand-to-hand combat between ISIS militants and Army Delta Force commandos happened, according to NBC News.

There were also twelve enemy fighters who were killed during the raid, according to U.S. officials. Nobody from the American forces were hurt.

The ISIS Commander, Abu Sayyaf, had been in charge of overseeing ISIS's illicit oil and gas operations. These operations had been the source of crucial revenue for the militant group which had been responsible for dominion over Syria and Iraq, Carter said in a statement.

"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," Carter said.

Abu Sayyaf may have been in contact with ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, according to CNN. Although he was killed, some of his communications equipment were captured, said sources.

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