U.S. soldier killed in rescue mission in Iraq: report

An American soldier was killed on Thursday as U.S. and Kurdish commandos raided an Islamic State (IS) outpost in northern Iraq in a rescue mission, U.S. media reported.

The commando became the first American soldier killed in action in Iraq since the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2011, according to The New York Times.

Iraqi officials told the newspaper that the objective of the mission had been a prison run by IS militants at a village east of Iraqi town of Hawija and the raid involved American helicopters, Kurdish and American Special Operations forces, and airstrikes.

Senior militants from the IS were captured, and some of their prisoners were said to have been freed, the officials said.

In Washington, two senior U.S. military officials confirmed to The New York Times the broad outlines of the operation but refused to provide details.

The Washington Post, citing individuals familiar with the mission, reported that at least a dozen IS fighters were reportedly killed in the raid and at least 70 Kurdish captives were freed.

The operation comes as Iraq and the American-led coalition have been trying to regain the initiative against the IS and stepping up the pressure against the militants in Ramadi, Baiji and other locations in Iraq, and in Syria. Endi