Two US soldiers wounded in Iraqi anti-ISIS op
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two American military personnel were injured while assisting Iraqi forces in an operation that killed several top Islamic State (ISIS) leaders earlier this week, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Wednesday.
“During the Iraqi-led operation, two U.S. military personnel were wounded while assisting Iraqi forces with site exploitation. They are in stable condition,” CENTCOM said in a statement on Wednesday.
The operation targeted ISIS hideouts in the Hamrin Mountains of central Iraq. Nine senior ISIS figures were killed, including the group’s top leader in Iraq, known by ISIS as the wali (governor).
The American statement said the US-led global coalition against ISIS “provided technical support and intelligence that enables the missions, which will disrupt and degrade ISIS attack networks in Iraq.”
In his statement announcing the operation, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani praised Iraqi forces on their “exceptional mission,” but did not mention the role of any foreign forces.
The Hamrin Mountains are a hotbed of jihadist activity as it is located in areas disputed between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) where the majority of Iraq’s anti-ISIS campaigns take place.
ISIS seized control of vast swathes of northern and central Iraq in 2014. The group was declared territorially defeated in the country in 2017 but it continues to carry out attacks on Iraqi and Kurdish forces.
"U.S. Central Command, alongside our coalition and Iraqi partners, will aggressively pursue ISIS and other terrorists that pose a threat to US forces, allies, partners, and security in the region," said CENTCOM commander Michael Erik Kurilla.
The coalition mission in Iraq will conclude in September 2025.
“During the Iraqi-led operation, two U.S. military personnel were wounded while assisting Iraqi forces with site exploitation. They are in stable condition,” CENTCOM said in a statement on Wednesday.
The operation targeted ISIS hideouts in the Hamrin Mountains of central Iraq. Nine senior ISIS figures were killed, including the group’s top leader in Iraq, known by ISIS as the wali (governor).
The American statement said the US-led global coalition against ISIS “provided technical support and intelligence that enables the missions, which will disrupt and degrade ISIS attack networks in Iraq.”
In his statement announcing the operation, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani praised Iraqi forces on their “exceptional mission,” but did not mention the role of any foreign forces.
ISIS seized control of vast swathes of northern and central Iraq in 2014. The group was declared territorially defeated in the country in 2017 but it continues to carry out attacks on Iraqi and Kurdish forces.
"U.S. Central Command, alongside our coalition and Iraqi partners, will aggressively pursue ISIS and other terrorists that pose a threat to US forces, allies, partners, and security in the region," said CENTCOM commander Michael Erik Kurilla.
The coalition mission in Iraq will conclude in September 2025.