U.S. counterterrorism mission conducted in Edleb, Syria, along border with Turkey

EDLEB, Syria — U.S. forces conducted a counterterrorism raid in Turkish-controlled northwest Syria, according to the Pentagon.

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

Local sources reported that U.S. forces carried out an airdrop. Rumors abound about who was the target of the raid, with many speculating it was a high-level Al-Qaeda leader. The Pentagon did not provide any details about the targeted person(s).

The Wall Street Journal reported that, “the mission, which targeted a major terrorist, was planned in Syria during the past few days,” without specifying the target(s) identity.

According to the paper, the mission was carried out in Atma village near the Turkish border, 24 km from the place where leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed in 2019.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) stated that the U.S.-led International Coalition, using helicopters, landed in the area, raided a house, and clashed with gunmen on the ground. Video footage taken of the raid showed helicopters circling overhead calling for those in the house to surrender themselves. Other videos showed helicopters firing at the house with cannon.

Apache helicopter firing 30mm rounds in the area of the Coalition raid near Dayr Balut. pic.twitter.com/hhFxfXve0p

— Status-6 (@Archer83Able) February 2, 2022