US Special Forces reportedly mounted a risky hostage rescue operation in Iraq
US Special Forces mounted an operation in northern Iraq to rescue Kurdish hostages, CNN reported on Thursday, citing unidentified US officials.
The raid resulted in the death of one American, although the raid was ultimately successful, CNN reports citing two unnamed US officials.
The raid was conducted alongside Kurdish and Iraqi forces in the city of Hawija. Seventy Kurdish hostages were allegedly freed as a result of the action.
The raid was directed against an ISIS run prison to the east of Hawija and featured American helicopters and airstrikes, The New York Times reports citing unnamed Iraqi officials. During the operation Kurdish forces took the lead while US Special Forces and airstrikes provided support.
According to the Iraqi officials, the raid resulted in the freeing of the Kurdish prisoners and the capture of several senior ISIS militants. The Times reports that two unnamed US military officials confirmed the general outline of the operation.
Related: Recent American hostages taken in the Middle East:
This is the first confirmed US Special Forces operation against ISIS in Iraq, although the US has conducted raids against ISIS before in Syria.
Most recently, on May 16, Special Forces conducted a raid in eastern Syria aimed at capturing Abu Sayyaf, a high ranking ISIS member. During the raid, Sayyaf was killed but his wife and considerable amounts of intelligence files were seized.
(Reuters reporting by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
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