US Military reports 15 ISIS Members Killed in Collaborative Operation with Iraqi Forces
CENTCOM stated that the ISIS fighters killed in the raid were armed with grenades and ‘suicide’ belts.
The U.S. military confirmed on Friday that a joint raid with Iraqi security forces on Aug. 29 resulted in the death of at least 15 ISIS terrorist group fighters in western Iraq. The operation targeted ISIS leaders.
CENTCOM explained that the objective of the joint operation was to target ISIS leaders and disrupt their ability to plan and carry out attacks on Iraqi civilians, as well as U.S. citizens, allies, and partners in the region and beyond.
No civilian casualties were reported from the operation, and it was not disclosed if any U.S. forces were injured.
CENTCOM mentioned that Iraqi security forces will continue to exploit the raid locations as ISIS remains a threat to the region, allies, and the homeland. The U.S. military and Iraqi partners are committed to aggressively pursuing ISIS terrorists in Iraq.
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A week prior to this joint raid, the U.S. military eliminated Abu Abdul Maki, a senior leader of the Hurras al-Din group, in Syria through a targeted kinetic strike. CENTCOM revealed that Abdul Maki was in charge of overseeing terrorist operations in Syria.
US Warns of Rising ISIS Threat
CENTCOM warned last month that ISIS is on track to double the number of attacks it claimed in 2023, with 153 incidents in Iraq and Syria in the first six months of 2024, compared to only 121 last year.
The U.S. military suspects that the increase in attacks suggests an attempted resurgence by the group after years of weakened capabilities.
CENTCOM reported a total of 196 missions conducted by U.S. forces, Iraqi Security Forces, and Syrian Democratic Forces in the first half of 2024 to counter ISIS and diminish their attack potential. During these missions, 44 ISIS operatives were killed and 166 detained. Additionally, eight senior ISIS leaders were killed and 32 captured in Iraq and Syria, responsible for various operational aspects.
CENTCOM emphasized that removing these leaders disrupts ISIS’s ability to carry out operations beyond Iraq and Syria.
The U.S. military intends to pursue the remaining 2,500 ISIS fighters at large in Iraq and Syria, with around 2,500 troops stationed in Iraq and 900 in Syria.
Stephen Katte contributed to this report.
