The man is alleged to have been known to be involved in arms smuggling, and to help IS fighters.

According to the United States, one more person was injured, and two people were detained.

Syrian state television said several helicopters were involved in the pre-dawn operation on Thursday.

A witness who lives in the village where the raid was carried out confirms that the American soldiers flew in in three helicopters.

- They used loudspeakers where they urged the residents to stay indoors, the villager told AFP.

According to the British-based opposition SOHR, it is the first time the US has carried out a similar operation in an area controlled by the Syrian regime since the war began in 2011.

The US followed up the raid with an airstrike in northern Syria on Thursday evening, killing two senior IS members.