ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Two American soldiers killed on Sunday during an operation against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Iraq’s Makhmour have been named.
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Moises A. Navas and Gunnery Sgt. Diego D. Pongo died during a joint coalition operation with Iraqi Security Forces in the disputed Qarachogh Mountains.
“On behalf of the military Coalition, I send my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Moises A. Navas and Gunnery Sgt. Diego D. Pongo,” Lt. Gen. Pat White, Commanding General of Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve, said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Their courage to confront the evil of ISIS while advising Iraqi Security Forces, in close combat is a testament to the Coalition’s steadfast commitment to achieve our goal to defeat ISIS permanently,” White said.
“Moises and Diego made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedoms and protect our way of life; they will not be forgotten,” he added.
The coalition confirmed the deaths in a statement on Monday.
“Two US service members were killed by the enemy while advising and accompanying Iraqi Special Forces during a mission to eliminate an ISIS terrorist stronghold in a mountainous area of north central Iraq,” the coaliton said in a statement emailed to Rudaw.
Eyewitnesses told Rudaw on Sunday the coalition provided air cover with warplanes and attack helicopters, with soldiers rappelling down on ropes.
Twenty-five ISIS militants were killed and nine tunnels destroyed in the operation, according to an Iraqi defense ministry spokesman.
Makhmour is a territory disputed between the federal government and the semiautonomous Kurdistan Region. The dispute has created a security vacuum, which ISIS militants have exploited to make their resurgence.
ISIS seized vast swathes of Syria and northern Iraq in the summer of 2014, including Mosul and other large Sunni-majority cities.
Despite its territorial defeat in Iraq in December 2017, ISIS sleeper cells have continued to attack civilians and conduct hit-and-run attacks against Iraqi forces, the Peshmerga, and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in the disputed territories.
Kurdish officials have repeatedly warned about the resurgence of ISIS in Makhmour.
The latest Pentagon Inspector General report, covering October 1 to December 31, said ISIS remnants are still active, capable of conducting small-scale attacks, and enjoy freedom of movement in Iraq’s isolated mountains and deserts.
“ISIS maintained both freedom of movement and the ability to hide and transport fighters and materiel in rural areas where [the Iraqi Security Forces] presence is less intense and ISIS can more easily avoid detection and capture,” the Lead Inspector General report said.
“ISIS retains enough manpower and planning capabilities to conduct regular small-scale attacks or ambushes against the ISF, the PMF, or local civilians accused of aiding the ISF or informing on ISIS activities.”
There are roughly 5,000 US troops in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region assisting, training, and advising local forces in the fight against ISIS.
