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US special forces have killed the leader of the jihadist group Islamic State in a raid in northwest Syria, President Joe Biden says.

Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Quraishi, had led IS since the death in 2019 of its founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was also killed when he detonated explosives during a raid by US commandos.

"Thanks to the bravery of our troops, this horrible terrorist leader is no more," Biden said in remarks at the White House, adding that US forces took every possible precaution to minimise civilian casualties.

As US troops approached the target, Quraishi blew himself up, also killing members of his own family including women and children, according to Biden and US officials.

Neither Biden nor US officials briefing reporters provided a death toll but Syrian rescue workers said at least 13 people were killed, including four women and six children.

Biden and US officials described Quraishi as the "driving force" behind the 2014 genocide of minority Yazidis in northern Iraq and said he oversaw a network of IS branches from Africa to Afghanistan.

"Last night's operation took a major terrorist leader off the battlefield and has sent a strong message to terrorists around the world: we will come after you and find you," Biden said.

Residents in the town of Atmeh, near the Turkish border, said helicopters landed and heavy gunfire and explosions were heard during the raid that began around midnight.

US forces used loud speakers to warn women and children to leave the area, they said.

US military procedures to guard against civilian casualties are under scrutiny following a high-profile mistaken drone strike in Afghanistan that the Pentagon initially hailed a success.

Since its defeat on the battlefield nearly three years ago, IS in Iraq and Syria - also known as ISIS - has waged insurgent attacks in both countries.

The most recent was last month when its fighters stormed a prison in northeastern Syria housing IS suspects.

Local leaders, security officials and residents in northern Iraq say it has been re-emerging as a deadly threat, aided by a lack of central control in many areas.

Quraishi, a 45-year-old Iraqi, had remained largely in the shadows since succeeding Baghdadi who led the group at the height of its self-declared caliphate, when it controlled swathes of Syria and Iraq and ruled over millions of people.

"Quraishi's killing is a huge deal and a huge blow to ISIS because ISIS never heard from this new leader," Syria analyst Hassan Hassan said.

"I think ISIS will continue to be weak and under pressure as long as the Americans are on the ground in Iraq and Syria and involved because the US serves as feet on a spring: once you step off, it sort of bounces back."

Quraishi was hiding out in a region of Syria that is home to several militant groups including Huras al-Din, or Guardians of Religion.

US forces have for years used drones to target jihadists in the area but Thursday's operation appeared to be the largest by US forces in the northwest since the raid that killed al-Baghdadi, said Charles Lister, senior fellow with the Washington DC-based Middle East Institute.

© RAW 2022

Grace Tame has broken her collarbone in a bike crash, saying she was hospitalised after the accident on Thursday.

The former Australian of the Year shared a photo with her left arm in a sling saying she'd broken the bone in a "bike stack".

The campaigner against sexual abuse also suffered a scrape on her shoulder.

"Out of hospital now and on the mend," she added, tagging her partner Max Heerey.

Ms Tame, who recently launched the Grace Tame Foundation, said her and Mr Heerey may take a "while to respond" to followers.

She is due to address the National Press Club on Wednesday, alongside Brittany Higgins.

Ms Higgins, a former Liberal staffer, has alleged she was raped by a colleague in a federal minister's office in 2019, a claim made public last year.

Last week Ms Tame made headlines after appearing alongside Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a morning tea for Australian of the Year finalists, after she didn't smile during a photo opportunity.

Ms Tame was called "childish" by one senior Liberal.

Mr Morrison said after the event he supported Ms Tame's work as an advocate during her time as Australian of the Year.

"When Jenny and I invite someone to our home, we greet them with a smile and they're always welcome, and that day was actually about all the finalists we came to celebrate," he said.

"I haven't raised any issues about (the incident) - all I'm saying is we were there that day to celebrate those who had done an incredible job for our country."

© AAP 2022

Repairs and reopening of the Stuart Highway, still flooded after an outback deluge, remains "priority number one" as South Australia looks to the federal government for disaster relief funding.

Premier Steven Marshall toured some of the affected areas in the state's north on Thursday to see the extent of the damage and to thank volunteers and emergency service workers for their efforts.

He said water over the Stuart Highway had receded from about 45 centimetres to 30 centimetres and good weather in coming days should help.

"This is priority number one - being able to get that water off the road, assess the damage and get that road back and operational as quickly as possible," he said.

"It's absolutely crucial we get that stood up as quickly as possible."

Nine food and supply drops have now been conducted into Coober Pedy, north of where the highway is cut, with two more expected for Thursday.

Restoring supplies to the town meant outlying communities could similarly restock.

The RAAF was also helping to evacuate some stranded tourists, the premier confirmed.

In other areas, chartered aircraft had been used to take supplies into the Indigenous APY lands where almost all roads remain impassable.

While some concerns remained for pastoralists across the region, especially those running low on diesel fuel.

Mr Marshall said it was fortunate that forecast rain overnight did not eventuate and floodwaters were starting to recede.

But he said the full extent of the damage to the highway was still to be determined and the time frame for repairs remained unclear.

Supplies to both the Northern Territory and Western Australia also remained under stress with train lines damaged by flooding at 18 separate spots across a 300-kilometre section of track.

"This is a mammoth exercise. There are many, many more weeks ahead of this recovery," Mr Marshall said.

"The reality is, this is a one in 200-year flood event. There's been plenty of heavy rain in this area before, but this is quite extreme.

"It's put this entire part of the state under enormous pressure."

State Emergency Service Regional Commander Trevor Arnold said the rain event in the north had been "unprecedented".

He said volunteers had responded to hundreds of calls for assistance, including eight swift-water rescues and recovering other people trapped between flooded creeks.

"There was a lot of people who drove through floodwaters against all the advice. But we're not there to judge, we're there to help," he said.

Mr Arnold said another assessment of water levels over the Stuart Highway would be conducted on Thursday.

"But it's not just the fact that the water needs to recede, it's the damage that may have been done to the road before people can drive on it," he said.

© AAP 2022