Fifteen members of the ISIS group were killed in a coordinated operation by American and Iraqi forces in western Iraq, the US Central Command, CENTCOM, announced in a statement on Friday. The raid that took place in the early morning of August 29 targeted the elimination of key leaders and operatives of ISIS.
Details of Operation and Outcome
CENTCOM said the operation took place in western Iraq and targeted several ISIS members armed with such an arsenal that included weapons, grenades, and explosive “suicide” belts. The raid killed 15 operatives of ISIS with no civilians being hurt. Iraqi Security Forces continue to exploit the locations raided to gather further intelligence.Injuries Among US Troops
Seven US troops were injured in the process. Of these, five were wounded in the raid while two others suffered injuries from falling. One of the wounded and one of those injured in a fall were evacuated to further treatment. All the injured personnel are reported to be stable.Continued Fight Against ISIS
CENTCOM further added that ISIS continues to be a persistent threat to the region, to US allies, and to the homeland. It reiterated its commitment alongside Iraqi and coalition partners to continue aggressive action against ISIS in order to neutralize the threat emanating from the terrorist group. The successful raid underlines the continued cooperation between US and Iraqi forces against jihadist elements in the region.Context of US-Iraq Relations
The operation comes as Baghdad and Washington are holding talks over the presence of coalition troops from the anti-jihadist coalition, whose aim is to defeat ISIS. While Iraq does wish to see a full withdrawal, no date has been publicly declared. There are about 2,500 US troops in Iraq and 900 troops in Syria under the international coalition against ISIS.
Thursday’s raid, the most serious strike against ISIS in a long time, underlined the persistent vigilance of both US and Iraqi forces against terror. The raid reflected the close coordination necessary to deter continued threats posed by jihadist groups in the region to security and stability.