Fifteen Islamic State group militants have been killed Thursday by United States and Iraqi forces in a joint raid that additionally resulted in accidents to seven American troops, U.S. Central Command officers introduced Friday.
ISIS fighters have been in possession of “quite a few weapons, grenades and explosive ‘suicide’ belts” through the raid, which was reportedly carried out within the nation’s Anbar province, U.S. Central Command officers stated in a launch.
“This operation focused ISIS leaders to disrupt and degrade ISIS’ potential to plan, manage, and conduct assaults towards Iraqi civilians, in addition to U.S. residents, allies, and companions all through the area and past,” officers stated. “Iraqi Safety Forces proceed to additional exploit the places raided.”
There isn’t a indication the mission resulted in civilian casualties, the discharge added.
An preliminary assertion by Iraqi safety forces stated “airstrikes focused the hideouts, adopted by an airborne operation.”
“Among the many useless have been key ISIS leaders,” Iraq officers stated. “All hideouts, weapons and logistical assist have been destroyed, explosive belts have been safely detonated and essential paperwork, identification papers and communication units have been seized.”
A U.S. protection official, talking on situation of anonymity to debate particulars of the operation but to be made public, advised The Related Press that 5 American troops have been wounded within the raid, whereas two others suffered accidents from falls through the operation. One was transported out of the area, whereas one of many wounded was evacuated for additional therapy, the official stated.
“All personnel are in steady situation,” the official added.
It wasn’t instantly clear why Iraqi officers didn’t point out U.S. involvement of their preliminary announcement of the operation, which was carried out as politicians proceed to debate the way forward for American troops within the nation.
Years after dislodging the militants from their self-declared caliphate throughout Iraq and Syria, U.S. forces proceed to battle the Islamic State group, although the casualties from this raid have been larger than in earlier operations.
There are roughly 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria.
Because the U.S. toppled dictator Saddam Hussein with its 2003 invasion of Iraq, the nation has struggled to steadiness relations between America and neighboring Iran.
Because the militant group Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault on Israel and the next conflict in Gaza, Iraqi militias allied to Iran have focused U.S. forces in Iraq, resulting in retaliatory American airstrikes.
At its peak, the Islamic State group dominated an space half the dimensions of the U.Okay. A coalition of greater than 80 international locations led by the U.S. was fashioned to battle the group, which misplaced its maintain on the territory it managed in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019.
Nonetheless, the militants have continued to function in Iraq and Syria. Final month, the U.S. navy stated the variety of assaults claimed by IS in Syria and Iraq was on monitor to double this yr, in contrast with the yr earlier than.
One such assault on Aug. 9 injured eight American troops when an air assault drone struck a facility on the Rumalyn Touchdown Zone American base in Syria. The personnel have been later handled for traumatic mind harm and smoke inhalation.
The U.S. navy in current weeks has been flooding the U.S. Central Command space of operations with further troops and property — together with the Abraham Lincoln Provider Strike Group — within the hope of deterring additional assaults and stopping a large conflict between Israel and Iran-backed militias.
There have been roughly 40,000 U.S. forces within the space as of publication.
Jon Simkins is a author and editor for Navy Instances, and a USMC veteran.
