On Thursday night, U.S. special operations forces executed a massive counterterrorism raid in northern Syria’s Idlib province, which the Pentagon described as a “successful mission.”

“The mission was successful,” said Pentagon press secretary John Kirby in a brief statement, adding, “There were no U.S. casualties. More information will be provided as it becomes available.”

The raid took place in Idlib, Syria’s rebel-held northern region. The Pentagon gave no information about who was targeted in the raid or whether any enemy or civilians were killed or injured on the ground. Several top al-Qaida operatives are based in Idlib.

Residents and activists in the region recounted seeing a huge ground attack and US Special forces urging women and children to leave the area over loudspeakers.

There was at least one major explosion. A U.S. official said that one of the helicopters in the raid suffered a mechanical problem and had to be blown up on the ground. The U.S. official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the military operation.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said troops for the U.S.-led coalition using helicopters landed in the area and attacked a house. It said the force clashed with fighters on the ground.

Taher al-Omar, an Idlib-based activist, also said that clashes between the fighters in the area broke out with the force.

Source: AP

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