THE UNITED STATES admitted today that it had sent special forces troops to Syria on a secret mission to rescue US hostages, including executed journalist James Foley.

The rescue mission failed because the several dozen soldiers dropped into Syria did not find them at a location identified by US intelligence agencies.

The special forces engaged in a firefight with Islamic State (Isis) fighters before departing, killing several, US officials admitted.

“The US government had what we believed was sufficient intelligence,” said President Barack Obama’s counter-terrorism adviser Lisa Monaco.

The administration revealed the operation a day after Isis released a video showing the beheading of Mr Foley and threatened to kill second hostage Steven Sotloff if US air strikes continued.

Despite the threats, the US launched new strikes in Iraq on Wednesday.

The disclosure of the mission marks the first time the US has admitted its military personnel have been on the ground in Syria since the civil war started.