Islamic State leader and family blended in among Syrians uprooted by war

Debris from a building destroyed in the aftermath of a counter-terrorism mission conducted by the U.S. Special Operations Forces is seen in Atmeh, Syria, February 4, 2022. Picture taken with a drone. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano

AMMAN/ATMEH, Syria (Reuters) - In a corner of Syria crammed with people uprooted by 11 years of civil war, the leader of Islamic State and his family hid in plain sight: they kept to themselves, neighbours did not pry into each other's past, the rent was paid on time.

The status quo was shattered on Thursday night, when U.S. special forces swept into the town of Atmeh in northwest Syria to raid his hideout.