The U.S. military forces in Iraq, in collaboration with Iraqi Security Forces, killed 15 Islamic State (IS) operatives during a joint operation targeting the militant group’s leadership, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) wrote on X on Friday.
Centcom said that during an operation conducted in western Iraq early Thursday, IS members confronted American and Iraqi troops armed with numerous weapons, grenades, and explosive “suicide” belts. Centcom confirmed there were no civilian casualties.
It added that “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.”
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces and Iraqi Security Forces 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… pic.twitter.com/fCOFyxtke1
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 31, 2024
The command added that Iraqi Security Forces continue to further exploit the locations raided.
U.S. media sources have indicated that seven American troops sustained injuries during the operation, though Centcom has not yet confirmed this.
The Iraqi military reported that airstrikes targeted IS hideouts, followed by an airborne operation in the desert and cave regions. According to their statement, all hideouts, weapons, and logistical support were destroyed, explosive belts were safely detonated, and important documents, identification papers, and communication devices were seized.
The White House National Security Council and the Pentagon have referred all inquiries to Centcom.
Currently, about 2,500 U.S. troops remain in Iraq in an advisory role, following the official end of combat operations announced in December 2021. On August 15, Iraq announced it would extend the timeline for U.S. military operations in the country.
This operation comes in the wake of recent IS-linked attacks and plots, including a planned attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. Austrian authorities, with intelligence from the CIA, disrupted the plot, preventing a potential catastrophe.
The attack in Solingen, Germany, which resulted in three deaths and eight injuries, has also been linked to IS. The group claimed responsibility for a rare shooting near a Shia mosque in Muscat, Oman, which resulted in six deaths and 28 injuries.
Intelligence-sharing and enhanced security measures have mitigated coordinated attacks in European cities, but the group’s online influence remains a concern.