According to two security officials, a rare US helicopter strike on a government-held village in northeastern Syria resulted in the death of an Islamic State official hiding there.

The United States has previously conducted operations in Syria against members of IS, but Thursday's operation would be the first known in a region held by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian state television's Telegram channel reported early Thursday morning that US special forces conducted a rare operation in the government-held town of Muluk Saray in the northeastern province of Hasakeh.

It was stated that one individual was slain and others were apprehended. It provided no additional information on their identities.

Two security sources later confirmed to Reuters that the individual who was slain was a U.S.-wanted Islamic State group official.

"The aircraft operation targeted a prominent IS leader in government-controlled territory in Syria. It was successful, according to a security source.

According to the source, the deceased individual was responsible for coordinating IS sleeper cells in the region.

"This operation aims to expand the scope of targeting members of this organization across Syria," the insider stated.

The second source confirmed that the individual slain was an IS officer and reported that U.S. forces took his body with them as they retreated.

According to a local source, the man relocated to the village of Muluk Saray in recent years from Taif, a former IS a stronghold near the Iraqi border.

"People believed he was a shepherd, but nobody knows his true identity," a source added.

According to a local source, US forces also entered a building used by Syrian security and detained "numerous individuals" inside.

Other neighborhood neighbors corroborated the raid to Reuters.

One source reported that U.S. helicopters landed in the area after midnight and instructed people over loudspeakers to remain indoors with the lights off.

According to the resident, the operation lasted many hours and there was no exchange of fire with U.S. forces.

A representative for the anti-Islamic State coalition led by the United States did not reply quickly to a request for comment.