View Full Version : U.S. commandos mounted a rare raid into eastern Syria
BEIRUT (AP) -- U.S. commandos mounted a rare raid into eastern Syria overnight, killing a senior Islamic State commander in a firefight, capturing his wife and rescuing a Yazidi woman held as a slave, the Pentagon said Saturday.
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A U.S. defense official said the raid was conducted overnight Friday (Friday evening Washington time) by a team of Army Delta commandos who flew from Iraq into eastern Syria aboard V-22 Osprey aircraft and Blackhawk helicopters.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_SYRIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-05-16-08-39-42
Bravo Zulu to all involved. :lifter
Abu Sayyaf, key ISIS figure in Syria, killed in U.S. raid
U.S. Special Operations forces killed a senior ISIS commander during a daring raid intended to capture him in eastern Syria overnight Friday to Saturday, U.S. government officials said.
The ISIS commander, Abu Sayyaf, was killed after he fought capture in the raid at al-Omar, U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said in a statement. His wife, an Iraqi named Umm Sayyaf, was caught and is being held in Iraq.
Carter said he had ordered the raid at the direction of President Barack Obama. All the U.S. troops involved returned safely.
National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said Obama had authorized the raid "upon the unanimous recommendation of his national security team" and as soon as the United States was confident all the pieces were in place for the operation to succeed.
"Abu Sayyaf was a senior ISIL leader who, among other things, had a senior role in overseeing ISIL's illicit oil and gas operations -- a key source of revenue that enables the terrorist organization to carry out their brutal tactics and oppress thousands of innocent civilians," she said in a statement.
"He was also involved with the group's military operations."
Umm Sayyaf, his wife, is currently in military detention in Iraq. A young woman from the Yazidi religious minority was rescued.
"We suspect that Umm Sayyaf is a member of ISIL, played an important role in ISIL's terrorist activities, and may have been complicit in the enslavement of the young woman rescued last night," said Meehan. ISIL is an alternative acronym for ISIS.
Airdrop, firefight
There is reason to believe that Abu Sayyaf may have been in contact with ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, sources familiar with the operation told CNN.
Although he was not taken alive, U.S. forces did capture some of his communications equipment, the sources said.
Abu Sayyaf also was known by the names Abu Muhammad al Iraqi and Abd al Ghani, they said.
More details are starting to emerge of how the raid deep in ISIS-controlled territory was carried out.
There was hand-to-hand combat during the operation, which was helicopter-borne, the sources told CNN.
About a dozen ISIS fighters were killed in the firefight at a residential building in Deir Ezzor, the sources said.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based monitoring group, said at least 19 ISIS militants had been killed by coalition bombing targeting ISIS' location in al-Omar oil field in eastern Deir Ezzor in the early hours of Saturday.
Preliminary information indicates that the U.S.-led coalition airdropped forces following the bombardment, it said.
A senior administration official told CNN the purpose of the mission was to capture the target, but he engaged U.S. forces so was killed. While the purpose was to capture the forces had the option to kill if they deemed it necessary, the official said.
Computer records
Abu Sayyaf is not a name familiar to many ISIS watchers.
But the fact that the United States clearly had him under close watch and was ready to put its forces at risk to carry out a ground raid, rather than ordering a drone strike, suggests the target was seen as very valuable.
CNN National Security Analyst Peter Bergen said the decision to send in U.S. Special Operations forces into Syria was unusual but not unprecedented.
"Taking out the guy who runs effectively the most important financing stream is obviously significant, but what's really significant is the computer records and all the materials that he would have with him as the head of this financing arm, if indeed that is the case that he is really that important," said Bergen.
The potential to seize valuable intelligence material and documents may have been what led the U.S. government to opt for a high-risk ground operation rather than a bombing mission, he said.
Such targeted operations push ISIS to be more careful about how they organize themselves and run their operations, he said. "They are going to be looking over their shoulder."
http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/16/middleeast/syria-isis-us-raid/
Mustang Man
05-16-2015, 08:46
The U.S. estimates that about a dozen IS fighters were killed but no civilians were wounded, even though women and children were present. The Americans returned to their base unharmed by about midnight Washington time.
Amazing! A success story that will no doubt go down in history. Dead Islamic terrorists, their leader KIA, rescued a captive slave, no civilians wounded, and most importantly everyone made it back in one piece!
Bravo & congrats to all involved.
rubberneck
05-16-2015, 08:52
Why does this administration feel the need to name the units involved in these operations? Good job to the guys involved!
mark46th
05-16-2015, 09:20
"Why does this administration feel the need to name the units involved in these operations?" Rubberneck
Two reasons- First, they love to bask in glory, especially when it is done by those with the stones to do something that they lack the physical and mental courage to do themselves.
Second, because deep down, this regime hates the this country, military and all it stands for. They mention names as a way to prove to the left that they are still down for the cause.
Outstanding job, Gentlemen!
twistedsquid
05-16-2015, 11:53
'Merica, fuck yeah!
ddoering
05-16-2015, 15:52
Why does this administration feel the need to name the units involved in these operations? Good job to the guys involved!
For the same reason they say the President directed the attack.
...but will there be some books and a movie deal to tell us what happened?
...but will there be some books and a movie deal to tell us what happened?
I don't think so ... they weren't SEALs.
mojaveman
05-16-2015, 23:08
Outstanding job guys.
Congrats,, Glad all are safe..
:lifter:lifter:lifter:lifter
A little wake up call. Guess they were not so tough when it is not women, children and half trained militia.
They are saying it was "Delta Force" that did the raid. Congrats to the D boys. :lifter
This quote from the SECDEF's release says a lot, "No U.S. forces were killed or injured during this operation." (My emphasis)
The Reaper
05-17-2015, 08:59
Well done, gents.
Now let's not say anymore about it.
TR
Team Sergeant
05-17-2015, 13:43
But, when they screw up it's a Special Forces or Special Operations raid.....:rolleyes:
So riddle me this, you have intel that Abu Sayyaf is positively at that location (same goes for Bin Laden), why not drop a 2000lb JDAM and then go and do BDA after? Why does the United States risk soldiers lives when a 2000 pounder can do the same thing with no risk?
I think I know why.....:munchin
But, when they screw up it's a Special Forces or Special Operations raid.....:rolleyes:
So riddle me this, you have intel that Abu Sayyaf is positively at that location (same goes for Bin Laden), why not drop a 2000lb JDAM and then go and do BDA after? Why does the United States risk soldiers lives when a 2000 pounder can do the same thing with no risk?
I think I know why.....:munchin
Because there are no headlines in that...no 'Look what I ordered'... 'am I not gutsy' etc......
He's doing very little and this fills the news vacuum for a week....
The boys did great tho and you can't beat reality training.
I agree with TS
JDAM's win wars..
If and only IF it was a major snatch,, send the boys.
Then JDAM the reminders..
:cool:
Dean Jarvis
05-17-2015, 15:51
But, when they screw up it's a Special Forces or Special Operations raid.....:rolleyes:
So riddle me this, you have intel that Abu Sayyaf is positively at that location (same goes for Bin Laden), why not drop a 2000lb JDAM and then go and do BDA after? Why does the United States risk soldiers lives when a 2000 pounder can do the same thing with no risk?
Information is slowly coming out, but I understand they gathered up a lot of computer equipment. Sounds like it could be an intelligence treasure trove. Can't get that with a JDAM.
Well done, gents.
Now let's not say anymore about it.
TR
I would offer that too much has already been leaked...
Information is slowly coming out, but I understand they gathered up a lot of computer equipment. Sounds like it could be an intelligence treasure trove. Can't get that with a JDAM.
If this was the guy buying and selling - might there not be a trove of transactions to followup on - via JDAM?
Consequences of doing "business" w ISIS. Sometimes a deal just blows up...
Team Sergeant
05-17-2015, 20:00
Information is slowly coming out, but I understand they gathered up a lot of computer equipment. Sounds like it could be an intelligence treasure trove. Can't get that with a JDAM.
I'm sure he had a T1 internet connection from his mud hut.... and I know we scored big on bin ladens computer porn stash too.:munchin
Yeah, I know intel, how much intel do you get from a dead man? You're telling me the "best in the world" could not take one gray-haired raghead alive?
TrapLine
05-17-2015, 20:16
I am happy that all the good guys are safe, there are some jihadists taking a dirt nap, and a captive of those uncivilized scum has been freed. Thanks to all those who head into harms way. God bless them.:lifter
Streck-Fu
05-18-2015, 09:33
Obviously I am not any expert on counter-terrorism, and generally I would agree, however I would figure making such a raid public knowledge would be good for psychological warfare purposes against ISIS?
The enemies that we would want to know, would hear about it without or TV media broadcasting it. I, too, vote for silence on the matter.
Whoever it was that planned (not the Zero) and conducted the raid: Well done! And thank you!
:lifter