DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) 鈥� The United States military and Iraq launched a joint raid targeting suspected militants in the country's western desert that killed at least 15 people and saw seven American troops hurt in the operation, officials said Saturday.
For years after dislodging the militants from their self-declared caliphate across Iraq and Syria, U.S. forces have continued fighting the Islamic State group, though the casualties from Friday's raid were higher than others in the time since.
The U.S. military's Central Command alleged the militants were armed with 鈥渘umerous weapons, grenades, and explosive 鈥榮uicide鈥� belts鈥� during the attack Thursday, which Iraqi forces said happened in the country's Anbar Desert.
鈥淭his operation targeted ISIS leaders to disrupt and degrade ISIS鈥� ability to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against Iraqi civilians, as well as U.S. citizens, allies, and partners throughout the region and beyond,鈥� Central Command said, using an acronym for the militant group. 鈥淚raqi Security Forces continue to further exploit the locations raided.鈥�
It added: 鈥淭here is no indication of civilian casualties.鈥�
An Iraqi military statement said 鈥渁irstrikes targeted the hideouts, followed by an airborne operation.鈥�
鈥淎mong the dead were key ISIS leaders,鈥� Iraq's military said, without identifying them. "All hideouts, weapons, and logistical support were destroyed, explosive belts were safely detonated and important documents, identification papers and communication devices were seized.鈥�
A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the operation yet to be made public, told The Associated Press that five American troops were wounded in the raid, while two others suffered injuries from falls in the operation. One who suffered a fall was transported out of the Mideast, while one of the wounded was evacuated for further treatment, the official said.
鈥淎ll personnel are in stable condition,鈥� the official said.
It wasn鈥檛 immediately clear why it took two days for the U.S. to acknowledge it took part in the raid. Iraq did not say the U.S. took part in the operation when initially announcing it as politicians debate the future of having American troops in the country.
At its peak, the Islamic State group ruled an area half the size of the United Kingdom where it attempted to enforce its extreme interpretation of Islam, which included attacks on religious minority groups and harsh punishment of Muslims deemed to be apostates.
A coalition of more than 80 countries, led by the United States, was formed to fight the group, which lost its hold on the territory it controlled in Iraq and 2017 and in Syria in 2019. However, the militants have continued to , while claiming attacks carried out by others elsewhere in the world. The IS branch in Afghanistan is known to carry out intensely bloody assaults.
Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press
