Washington DC [US], August 31 (ANI): The United States military said on Friday (local time) that 15 ISIS operatives were killed in a joint operation by US and Iraqi forces in western Iraq.
The 15 ISIS operatives who were killed were “armed with numerous weapons, grenades, and explosive ‘suicide’ belts,” US Central Command said in a statement.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties, CENTCOM said.
“This operation targeted ISIS leaders to disrupt and degrade ISIS’ ability to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against Iraqi civilians, as well as U.S. citizens, allies, and partners throughout the region and beyond,” it added.
The US military said the Iraqi security forces are working “to further exploit the locations raided,” as ISIS remains a “threat to the region, our allies, as well as our homeland.”

CENTCOM said the US will continue to aggressively pursue ISIS operatives with coalition and Iraqi partners.
Earlier, Iraq postponed announcing an end date for Operation Inherent Resolve, the US military operation combating ISIS, due to “recent developments,” raising questions about the future of US military presence in the Gulf state amid heightened tension in the region, according to a CNN report.
The US has around 2,500 troops in Iraq currently who have been operating there in an “advise and assist” capacity since December 2021, when the US military announced the end of its combat role in the country.
Notably, the Middle East has grappled with heightened tensions in recent months amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and as the US braces for a potential Iranian attack on Israel over the late July killing of a Hamas political leader in Tehran.
Iran claims the assassination was carried out by Israel, which has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.
The US Department of Defence announced earlier this month that it would be sending a carrier strike group, a fighter squadron and additional warships to the Middle East in preparation for a possible retaliation. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a guided-missile submarine and accelerated the arrival of a carrier strike group to the region, CNN reported. (ANI)

US captures ISIS leader who escaped detention facility in Syria

Tampa (Florida) [US], September 3 (ANI): The United States has captured an ISIS leader who helped members of the terror group after they escaped from a detention facility in Syria, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).
US forces working with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), captured the ISIS leader Khaled Ahmed al-Danda, who was assessed as helping ISIS fighters, after escape from a Raqqah Detention Facility in Syria, as per an official statement.
“Over 9,000 ISIS detainees remain in over 20 SDF detention facilities in Syria, a literal and figurative ‘ISIS Army’ in detention,” Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander, US Central Command said.
Gen Kurilla stated that if a large number of these ISIS fighters escaped, it would pose an extreme danger to the region and beyond. “We will continue to work with the international community to repatriate these ISIS fighters to their countries of origin for final adjudication,” he said.
Previously, on August 29, five ISIS Foreign Terrorist Fighter detainees (two Russians, two Afghans, and one Libyan) had escaped from the Raqqah Detention Facility.
The SDF recaptured two escapees- Imam Abdulwahed Akhwan (Russian) and Muhammad Noh Muhammad (Libyan).

Three escapees Timor Talbrken Abdash (Russian) and Shuab Muhammad Al-Abdli and Atal Khaled Zar (both Afghans) remain at large, the US CENTCOM said
Also, US Central Command forces successfully destroyed two missile systems in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, a statement dated September 2 stated.
It was determined these systems presented an imminent threat to US and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region as per the statement which added that these actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels.
It also condemned the Houthis’ latest attacks on ships off the coast of Yemen, saying the rebel group deployed two ballistic missiles and a drone against the Panama-flagged MV Blue Lagoon and the Saudi-owned MV Amjad.
Both vessels were laden with crude oil, the US CENTCOM said adding that the MV Amjad was carrying approximately two million barrels of oil, almost twice the amount onboard the Greek-owned MV Delta Sounion, which the Houthis attacked on Aug. 21.
Currently, salvage efforts are underway in the Southern Red Sea for the disabled MV Delta Sounion, which is still on fire and threatens the possibility of a major environmental disaster.
These reckless acts of terrorism by the Houthis continue to destabilize regional and global commerce, as well as put the lives of civilian mariners and maritime ecosystems at risk, the US CENTCOM said. (ANI)