Details of the air mission over Syria were confirmed by a U.S. official not authorized to speak publicly because the details have not yet been formally announced.
Comment: In other words, this information was intentionally leaked to the press. They want the world to know that they're still supporting terrorists.
C-17s, accompanied by fighter escort aircraft, dropped small arms ammunition and other items like hand grenades in Hasakah province in northern Syria to a coalition of rebels groups vetted by the US, known as the Syrian Arab Coalition. All pallets successfully were recovered by friendly forces, a U.S. official said.
don't think the word you meant to use in the title is "painstakingly". I think you mean "painfully".