First ISIS commander captured ALIVE in lightning commando raid

The capture is important due to his senior position – and the vital information he holds.

It is believed to be the first time a top ISIS commander has been captured in Iraq.

American officials have been grilling him at a temporary detention facility in Irbil, in northern Iraq, for the past two or three weeks.

The raid appears to be the first major success for the Pentagon’s new "expeditionary targeting force" – which recently began operating in Iraq.

The new specialist force aims to disrupt Islamic State operations in Iraq and Syria and gather intelligence that can be used to conduct follow-on raids and strikes.

Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook refused to confirm the capture – but admitted the goals of the new task force include capturing ISIS leaders.

"Any detention would be short-term and coordinated with Iraqi authorities,” he said.

US Defense secretary Ash Carter has spoken about the team several times over the past few months – but has emphasised his intention to keep a lid on details of its actual operations in Iraq and Syria.

He revealed the team would be sent to conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence and capture Islamic State leaders.

Carter said it would be used "to conduct raids of various kinds, seizing places and people, freeing hostages and prisoners of ISIL, and making it such that ISIL has to fear that anywhere, anytime, it may be struck”.

He said the targeting force was "in position” and "having an effect and operating”.

(dailystar.co.uk)