U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Friday that its forces, in coordination with the Iraqi Security Forces, conducted a raid in western Iraq during the early hours of Aug. 29, resulting in the deaths of 15 Islamic State (ISIS) operatives.
“The ISIS element was armed with numerous weapons, grenades, and explosive ‘suicide’ belts,” CENTCOM stated, adding that there were no indications of civilian casualties during the raid.
Seven American troops were injured in the joint operation, according to the Associated Press, which cited U.S. military sources. Five were wounded in the raid, while two others sustained injuries from falls, a U.S. military official told the AP. “All personnel are in stable condition,” the official noted. The U.S. Department of Defense did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the injury toll.
Earlier this month, at least five U.S. personnel were injured in an attack on a military base in Iraq.
Subsequently, Iraq’s foreign ministry indicated that an announcement regarding an end date for the U.S.-led coalition’s mission had been postponed due to “latest developments,” though it did not specify what those developments were.
Reuters reported in March that discussions between the U.S. and Iraq about ending the U.S.-led military coalition in the country might not conclude until after the U.S. presidential elections in November.
Iraq, a rare ally of both the U.S. and Iran, currently hosts 2,500 U.S. troops and has Iran-backed militias integrated into its security forces.