WASHINGTON — US forces played a minor role in Friday’s failed attempt to free a French intelligence agent from an Islamist group in Somalia, the White House said yesterday.

In a letter to Congress, President Obama said US aircraft entered Somalia air space in a bid to help the French rescue a citizen from the group al-Shabaab.

“United States forces provided limited technical support to the French forces in that operation, but took no direct part in the assault on the compound,” Obama wrote.

The failed raid left 17 Islamists dead.