U.S. Special Operations forces successfully carried out a counter-terrorism mission in northwest Syria on Thursday, the Pentagon said, but did not share any further details.

A small number of U.S. special operations forces will be deployed to northern Syria to work with local ground forces in the fight against Islamic State militants, senior U.S. officials said Friday, marking the first time American troops will be working openly on the ground in the war-torn country.

A retired American soldier has criticized a Canadian judge's decision to allow the release a former Guantanamo Bay inmate on bail, saying he's a dangerous terrorist who poses a threat to the West's safety.