US forces capture Islamic State operative in Iraq: Report

Baghdad: US Special Operations Forces captured a significant Islamic State operative in Iraq, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, the first suspected raid by a new force sent in recent weeks to target the jihadist group`s fighters and leaders.

The newspaper said the unidentified detainee was being interrogated by US officials in a temporary facility in the Kurdish city of Erbil, but the defence officials it cited provided few other details.

A Pentagon spokesman declined to comment on details of the force`s missions but said any detention would be "short term and coordinated with Iraqi authorities".

Iraqi and Kurdish military spokesmen declined immediate comment.