U.S. Special Operations forces killed a senior ISIS leader and captured his wife in a raid in Syria on Saturday, Secretary of Defense Ash 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.
{mosads}Carter said U.S. forces intended to capture Abu Sayyaf, who helped lead the terror group’s oil and gas operations, but he was killed when “he engaged U.S. forces.”
His wife, known as Umm Sayyaf, was taken into custody.
Carter said that the military suspects Umm Sayyaf “is a member of ISIL, played an important role in ISIL’s terrorist activities, and may have been complicit in what appears to have been the enslavement of a young Yezidi woman rescued” during the operation.
Authorities are still deciding how to handle her detention, the White House said. She is reportedly an Iraqi national.
No American troops were killed or injured in the raid.
The White House said the strike was launched from Iraq “with the full consent of Iraqi authorities.”
The Washington Post reported that U.S. special operators landed near the building in Syria where they believed Sayyaf was located and were engaged in fighting with militants. The paper also reported that they had collected items that might provide intelligence.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) released a statement Saturday lauding the military personnel involved in the raid, but he warned of the long fight ahead.
“While I am encouraged by today’s good news, I remain gravely concerned by ISIL’s assault on Ramadi that threatens the stability and sovereignty of Iraq, which is vital to America’s interests,” he said.
Boehner noted legislation moved by the House to offer security assistance in the anti-ISIS fight.
“The United States House of Representatives takes seriously our role in defeating terrorist networks threatening our people, our homeland and our allies,” he said.
Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) also praised U.S. Special Forces on Saturday for their display of heroism in Syria.
“Congratulations to all of our military personnel involved in this dangerous mission,” said Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a statement.
“Once again, they demonstrated why our military is the finest fighting force on the planet,” he said.
“Thanks to their gutsy mission, a key ISIS leader who directed the group’s financing is now out of the game and another terrorist has been captured,” Royce said. “U.S. forces must now use the intelligence captured at the terrorist compound in Syria and gathered from Umm Sayyaf to keep hitting this deadly and savage enemy.”
– Updated at 5:34 p.m.