“This operation targeted ISIS leaders in order to disrupt and degrade ISIS’s ability to plan, organize, and execute attacks against Iraqi civilians, as well as U.S. citizens, allies, and partners in the region and beyond,” U.S. Central Command said. “Iraqi Security Forces continue to clear the sites that were raided.”
An Iraqi army statement said, “The airstrikes targeted the hideouts, followed by an airdrop.”
The Iraqi army added, “Among the dead were leaders of the ISIS organization,” noting that “all hideouts, weapons, and logistical support were destroyed, and explosive belts were safely detonated. Important documents, identity papers, and communication devices were also seized.”
Five U.S. soldiers were wounded in the strike, and two others were injured in the operation, a U.S. defense official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the operation that have not been released. One of the wounded was flown out of the Middle East, the official said, while another was evacuated for further treatment.
“All individuals are in stable condition,” he added.
It was not immediately clear why the United States took two days to acknowledge its involvement in the raid. Iraq did not mention the United States’ involvement in the operation when it was first announced, as politicians debate the future of the U.S. troop presence in the country, which has about 2,500 troops.
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2024-08-31 14:31:11
