Lagatar24 Desk
Washington, D.C.: A coordinated operation between American and Iraqi forces resulted in the elimination of 15 members of the Islamic State (ISIS) in western Iraq, as confirmed by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Friday. The operation, carried out early Thursday morning, was aimed at ISIS leadership and concluded with no reported civilian casualties.
The joint forces encountered heavily armed ISIS operatives equipped with various weapons, grenades, and explosive suicide belts. CENTCOM’s statement on the social media platform X highlighted that Iraqi forces continue to explore the raided locations to gather more intelligence.
During the operation, five US soldiers were wounded in combat, while two others sustained injuries due to falls. One of the injured soldiers and one of the personnel involved in a fall were evacuated for medical treatment. All seven injured troops are reported to be in stable condition.
“ISIS remains a significant threat to the region, our allies, and our homeland. US CENTCOM, alongside our coalition and Iraqi partners, will continue to aggressively pursue these terrorists,” CENTCOM stated, reinforcing their commitment to eradicating the extremist group.
This recent operation occurs amid ongoing discussions between Baghdad and Washington concerning the future presence of anti-jihadist coalition forces in Iraq. Although Iraq has expressed a desire for a complete withdrawal of these forces, no specific timeline has been disclosed.
Currently, the United States maintains approximately 2,500 troops in Iraq and an additional 900 in Syria as part of the international coalition against ISIS. Coalition forces in both countries have frequently been targeted by drones and rocket fire, particularly as regional tensions have escalated following the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
Last winter, the Islamic Resistance of Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed groups, claimed responsibility for around 175 rocket and drone attacks against US forces in Iraq and Syria. In response, US forces have conducted multiple retaliatory strikes against these militant groups in both countries.
This raid also follows a recent US operation in Syria, where a senior leader of an Al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group was killed less than a week ago.
