Seven US Troops Injured in Joint Raid Targeting IS Hideouts in Iraq
The United States military participated in a raid on the Islamic State alongside Iraqi security forces on Thursday, leaving seven US troops injured, officials revealed Saturday evening.
Of the seven wounded soldiers, one required evacuation, and another needed to be transported outside of the region together to be treated for their injuries, according to one Department of Defense official who spoke to the press on the condition of anonymity.
All seven, however, are now in stable condition, the source added.
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15 IS fighters were killed in the “airborne operation,” which took place in the remote Anbar Desert, a sparsely populated region straddling the country’s border with Syria and Jordan, the Iraqi military said.
In a statement published Saturday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed American involvement in the raid and, without naming the individuals in question, disclosed that there were no civilian casualties and “key ISIS leaders” were killed.
“All hideouts, weapons, and logistical support were destroyed, explosive belts were safely detonated, and important documents, identification papers, and communication devices were seized,” CENTCOM added, noting that Iraqi forces were continuing to seek out and destroy additional IS hideouts.
It is unclear as to why Iraq did not acknowledge US involvement in the operation when it initially announced the successful raid.
The announcement comes at a time of increasing uncertainty about the future of the US military presence in the country, as a more Iran-friendly government in Baghdad publicly calls for a gradual withdrawal of American forces from the country amid simmering regional tensions caused by the war in Gaza.
There are roughly 2,500 American troops stationed in Iraq, deployed to support the government’s counterinsurgency campaign against IS remnants still active in the country.
