"Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) conducted precision airstrikes in Northeastern Iraq on Oct. 14 that killed four members of the terrorist organization ISIS, including a senior leader," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.
The leader, according to the statement, was known as "Abu Issa" (aka Shahadhah 'Allawi Salih 'Ulaywi al-Bajjari). The "Wali of Kirkuk," he led the extremists' cell in Kirkuk.
On Tuesday, Iraq's Security Media Cell had stated that Iraqi F-16 aircraft conducted "two successful strikes" at 1:30 am within Kirkuk Operations Command, and Iraqi counterterrorism forces a few hours later recovered the bodies of four suspected ISIS militants, including an "important leader."
"The Iraqi-led strikes were conducted to disrupt and degrade ISIS attack network in Iraq," CENTCOM stated, detailing there "is no indication of civilian casualties."
"U.S. Central Command, alongside our coalition and Iraqi partners, will continue to aggressively pursue these terrorists," US General Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM's commander, said in a statement.
Strikes in territories disputed between the federal Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) are part of ongoing efforts to rid the country of ISIS cells, in areas where a security vacuum allows them to operate.
Iraq's Joint Operations Command announced on Friday that warplanes targeted a suspected ISIS hideout in disputed Kirkuk province. However, as Kurdish security forces (Asayish) conducted a sweeping operation in Shwan district, one of their members from Sulaimani province was killed in clashes with remnant ISIS fighters.
ISIS seized control of vast swathes of Iraqi territory in 2014, sweeping across vast stretches of northern and central Iraq. The jihadists’ so-called “caliphate” was brought to an end in 2017 as Iraqi and Kurdish fighters, supported by a US-led international coalition, clawed back territory from the group.
Despite its territorial defeat, ISIS has continued to pose security threats in Iraq through hit-and-run attacks, bombings, and abductions, particularly in the disputed territories that stretch across several provinces including Diyala, Salahaddin, Kirkuk, and Nineveh.
Last week, an Iraqi airstrike in disputed territories in Salahaddin province killed at least six ISIS members.
In late August, a joint operation by the Iraqi army and US forces in the western Anbar province killed 16 ISIS militants, and the US military later said that the operation killed four ISIS leaders.
Earlier this month, the Iraqi army announced that more than 100 ISIS members have been killed since the beginning of the year.
