A joint operation between Iraqi forces and the U.S. military resulted in the deaths of at least seven ISIS operatives in central Iraq, according to a statement by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday. The operation, which included airstrikes and follow-up raids, was launched a day after Iraqi officials reported the death of Jassim Al-Mazrouei, the militant group’s commander for Iraq.
“Overnight, CENTCOM and Iraqi security forces conducted a partner raid in Iraq targeting several senior ISIS leaders,” Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said at a briefing. Ryder added that “the raid resulted in the death of multiple ISIS operatives,” without disclosing their names.
In a separate statement, Iraq’s Joint Operations Command said a total of nine ISIS militants were killed in the raid. The operation, which took place in the Hamrin Mountains of northern Iraq also uncovered and destroyed a workshop used for manufacturing explosive devices. Large quantities of weapons, ammunition, and equipment were also seized.
According to CENTCOM, two U.S. service members were injured during the operation. Both soldiers were wounded while assisting Iraqi forces with site exploitation, a process involving the collection of intelligence and materials from the raid. The soldiers were transferred to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and are reportedly in stable condition.
Iraqi Security Forces Target, Kill Multiple Senior ISIS Members, with Support from CJTF-OIR Forces. pic.twitter.com/TUjqXBmsdp
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 23, 2024
The Iraqi military’s success in this operation follows months of intensified efforts against ISIS, which has been increasingly led by local forces with U.S. support. CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla stated, “U.S. Central Command, alongside our coalition and Iraqi partners, will aggressively pursue ISIS and other terrorists that pose a threat to U.S. forces, allies, partners, and security in the region.”
The joint raid is part of a broader effort led by the U.S. and its partners in Iraq to dismantle the remnants of ISIS. Although the group has been significantly weakened since its peak power in the mid-2010s, when it controlled large swaths of territory across Iraq and Syria, it continues to pose a threat in the region.
Despite the ongoing offensive against ISIS, recent tensions in the Middle East have delayed the official announcement of an end to the U.S.-led coalition’s combat mission in Iraq. Iraq’s military had previously planned to propose an end date for Operation Inherent Resolve, but recent regional developments have postponed these discussions.
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