Baghdad, 31 August 2024 (TDI): A joint Iraqi-US raid targeting Daesh militants in western Iraq resulted in 15 deaths and left seven US troops injured, the American military reported early Saturday.
The operation, which took place in the Anbar Desert, aimed to disrupt Daesh’s capabilities to plan and execute attacks.
The militants were reportedly armed with numerous weapons, grenades, and explosive belts.
The US military’s Central Command stated that there were no indications of civilian casualties.
Iraqi forces conducted airstrikes against the militants’ hideouts followed by an airborne operation. Despite the loss of the territory once controlled by Daesh in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019, the group remains active in the region and continues to carry out attacks.
The raid highlights ongoing efforts by the US and its allies to counter Daesh, despite the group’s diminished territorial control.
The United States has approximately 2,500 troops stationed in Iraq and 900 in Syria as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State group.
The coalition has faced numerous attacks with drones and rockets, especially in light of increased regional tensions following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
In the past winter, Islamic Resistance of Iraq, reportedly conducted around 175 rocket and drone attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria.
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In response, US forces have executed multiple retaliatory strikes against these militant factions.
Notably, just under a week ago, US forces killed a senior leader of an Al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group in Syria.
