ISIS Commander killed by US forces

A senior Islamic State leader, Abu Sayyaf, has reportedly been killed by the U.S. special operations forces during a raid in eastern Syria, the Pentagon and White House said on Saturday, May 16.

It was reported that Sayyaf directed the group's oil, gas and financial operations.

The terrorist’s wife, Umm Sayyaf, was said to have been captured in the raid.

"During the course of the operation, Abu Sayyaf was killed when he engaged U.S. forces," White House National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said in a statement

She said the operation was authorised by President Barrack Obama with the full consent of Iraqi authorities.

Meehan said,  "the president authorized this operation upon the unanimous recommendation of his national security team and as soon as we had developed sufficient intelligence and were confident the mission could be carried out successfully and consistent with the requirements for undertaking such operations."