Hawzah News Agency –At least 13 people, among them children and women, were killed in an airdrop operation carried out by US occupation forces on Thursday in the vicinity of Atma village in northern countryside of Idleb province.

Local sources said that an airdrop was launched from US helicopters for US special forces targeting some houses near Atma village. The US forces raided and destroyed some houses after encircling them in Atma area, north of Idleb along with drones’ shelling , killing at least 13 people, including six children and 3 women.

The sources added that the number of the victims is expected to increase as there are people under debris of the houses which were destroyed by the US occupation forces.

US Pentagon said in a statement that U.S. special forces conducted a successful counterterrorism operation in Idleb early Thursday, adding that there had been no U.S. casualties.

The Pentagon declined to give any details about the target’s name or group.

US mass media said that the US occupation has destroyed a helicopter after it faced mechanical problems and was forced to land.