Live updates: U.S. military raid kills ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi in Syria, Biden says

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BEIRUT — President Biden said Thursday that a U.S. Special Operations forces counterterrorism mission overnight in northwestern Syria killed the leader of the Islamic State militant group.

Thirteen people were killed during the raid, including children, local first responders said. No U.S. casualties were reported in the operation, which left a U.S. helicopter destroyed on the ground. U.S. officials said the civilian casualties were caused by a “terrorist” in the targeted compound who detonated a huge explosion.

In a statement Thursday, Biden said: “Last night at my direction, U.S. military forces in northwest Syria successfully undertook a counterterrorism operation to protect the American people and our Allies, and make the world a safer place. Thanks to the skill and bravery of our Armed Forces, we have taken off the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi — the leader of ISIS. All Americans have returned safely from the operation.”

Biden to speak to nation about U.S. raid in Syria

By Donna Cassata9:16 a.m.

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Biden will address the nation later this morning from the White House about the U.S. raid in Syria that killed the leader of the Islamic State group.

In a statement Thursday morning, Biden announced the counterterrorism mission in northwest Syria “to protect the American people and our Allies, and make the world a safer place.”

“Thanks to the skill and bravery of our Armed Forces, we have taken off the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi — the leader of ISIS. All Americans have returned safely from the operation,” Biden added.

In the early morning in Syria, residents recall a thunderous morning assault

By Sarah Dadouch, Kareem Fahim and Daniel Lamothe9:13 a.m.

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Residents in the area of the raid described a thunderous, early morning assault involving multiple helicopters and heavy machine gun fire.

The White Helmets, a Syrian civil defense group that works in areas of Syria not under government control, said they recovered 13 bodies, including those of six children and four women, from a house that appeared to be the target of the operation.

They also said they treated a nearby resident and a young girl who lived in the house, whose entire family they said was killed. UNICEF, in a statement, confirmed that six children were killed.

Two U.S. officials with knowledge of the situation said the civilian casualties were caused by a “terrorist” in the targeted compound who detonated explosives. One of the officials said the explosion killed the man “and members of his own family, including women and children.”

An American helicopter experienced a mechanical malfunction, prompting U.S. troops to blow it up in place before they flew away on other aircraft, one of the officials said. Both spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.