DHAKA: At least 32 Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria members, including four of its leaders, were killed in air strikes and a US special forces raid that targeted the group in eastern Syria.

A group monitoring the Syrian war said on Sunday, reports The Straits Times.

US officials said the raid killed a senior IS leader identified as a Tunisian who helped to manage its black-market sales of oil and gas to raise funds.

A US official said that about a dozen fighters were killed in the raid.

British-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights gathers its information from sources in the region.

The operation in the eastern Deir al-Zor province marked a departure from Washington’s strategy of relying primarily on air strikes to target militants in the area.

BDST: 1908 HRS, MAY 17, 2015
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