ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Fifteen Islamic State (ISIS) suspects were killed in a joint military operation by the US army and the Iraqi security forces in western Iraq on Thursday, said the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Saturday. The Iraqi army put the ISIS death toll at 14 the previous day. Seven US soldiers were reportedly injured in the raid.
Iraq and US “conducted a partnered raid in Western Iraq in the early hours of Aug. 29, resulting in the death of 15 ISIS operatives. The ISIS element was armed with numerous weapons, grenades, and explosive "suicide" belts. There is no indication of civilian casualties,” said CENTCOM in a statement.
A US defense official told Rudaw's Diyar Kurda that seven US troops were injured during the raid, adding that all of the personnel were in stable condition.
“This operation targeted ISIS leaders to disrupt and degrade ISIS' ability to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against Iraqi civilians, as well as U.S. citizens, allies, and partners throughout the region and beyond,” it added.
Iraq's Joint Operations Command (JOC) announced on Friday that it had killed 14 suspected ISIS fighters in a joint operation with the US-led global coalition in the western province of Anbar.
“After clashes with those fleeing the airstrikes at several hideouts, the number of dead ISIS elements defeated in the deserts and caves reached 14 terrorists, some of whom were wearing explosive belts and carrying hand grenades,” it added.
The JOC also noted that among the dead were “key leaders from the top ranks” of ISIS, adding that all the hideouts of the group along with their weapons and logistics support were destroyed.
ISIS rose to power and seized control of large swathes of Iraqi territory during a brazen offensive in 2014. It was declared territorially defeated in 2017, when its so-called caliphate in the country fell to Iraqi and Kurdish fighters, supported by the US-led international coalition.
Despite its territorial defeat, the group continues to carry out hit-and-run attacks, bombings, and abductions in several provinces, particularly in areas disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, which stretch across the provinces of Salahaddin, Diyala, Kirkuk, and Nineveh.
“ISIS remains a threat to the region, our allies, as well as our homeland. U.S. CENTCOM alongside our coalition and Iraqi partners, will continue to aggressively pursue these terrorists,” stated CENTCOM on Saturday.
Updated at 11:19 pm
