CAIRO — US commandos killed a senior leader of the militant Islamic State group in a raid in Syria, Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said on Saturday.
Carter said the raid in the eastern Syrian town of al-Amr was carried out on Friday night to capture Abu Sayyaf, who was involved in military operations by Islamic State.
Abu Sayyaf was killed during the operation when he engaged US forces, according to the official.
"[He] helped direct the terrorist organisation's illicit oil, gas, and financial operations as well," Carter said in a statement.
US forces captured Abu Sayyaf's wife, suspected by Washington of being a member of Islamic State and of playing an important role in the militia's terrorist activities. She is currently in US military detention in Iraq.
No US forces were killed or injured in the raid, Carter said.
"The operation represents another significant blow to ISIL," he said, using an acronymn for Islamic State.
The White House said Saturday's raid was ordered by President Barack Obama and carried out by US personnel based in Iraq.
Islamic State rules large parts of Syria and Iraq.
The al-Qaeda splinter group has been the target of US-led airstrikes in both countries in recent months.