US, Iraq team up to kill 15 ISIS operatives in early morning raid, US military says
The US military said that the operatives were armed with weapons, grenades and 'suicide' belts
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A joint operation by American and Iraqi forces killed 15 members of the Islamic State group in western Iraq, the U.S. military announced.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) tweeted on Friday that in the early hours of Thursday, Aug. 29, U.S. and Iraqi forces killed 15 ISIS operatives. The operatives were "armed with numerous weapons, grenades, and explosive ‘suicide’ belts," the agency announced.
At least seven U.S. service members were injured in the raid — five during one portion of the operation, and two more during a second segment of the operation.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A U.S. defense official tells Fox News Digital, "During the operation, five U.S. personnel were wounded. One of the wounded was evacuated for further treatment. Two additional U.S. personnel were injured from falls during the operation, with one also evacuated out of theater for follow on care. All personnel are in stable condition."
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A masked Islamic State soldier poses holding the ISIS flag in 2015. (Pictures from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The U.S. military noted that there were no civilian causalities from the operation.
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"ISIS remains a threat to the region, our allies, as well as our homeland. US CENTCOM alongside our coalition and Iraqi partners, will continue to aggressively pursue these terrorists," they added.
Centcom (U.S. Central Command)
Thursday's raid comes about a week after U.S. forces killed a senior leader of an Al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group in Syria.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The agency announced that Abu Abdul Makki, a senior leader in the group Horas al-Din, or "Guardians of Religion," was killed in a "kinetic strike." They said that Makki was "responsible for overseeing terrorist operations from Syria."
"CENTCOM remains committed to the enduring defeat of terrorists ... who threaten the United States, its allies and partners, and regional stability," the CENTCOM commander, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, said in a statement.