Joint U.S.-Iraq Raid Takes Down 15 Suspected ISIS Militants in Anbar Desert

The U.S. and Iraqi forces conducted a joint raid in Iraq's Anbar Desert targeting suspected ISIS militants, resulting in at least 15 deaths and injuries to seven U.S. troops. The operation aimed to disrupt ISIS activities, with no civilian casualties reported. Key ISIS leaders were among the dead.

The United States military and Iraqi forces launched a significant joint raid targeting ISIS militants in Iraq's western Anbar Desert. The operation resulted in the deaths of at least 15 militants and injuries to seven American troops, officials reported on Saturday.

Central Command revealed that the militants were armed with weapons, grenades, and explosive suicide belts. This operation, which aims to dismantle ISIS’s leadership and disrupt their ability to organize future attacks, saw Iraqi forces performing airborne strikes on militant hideouts. No civilian casualties were reported, but key ISIS leaders were among the dead.

The raid marks one of the most intense joint operations since the dislodgment of ISIS from their self-declared caliphate. Despite the territorial victory over ISIS in Iraq and Syria, U.S. and Iraqi forces continue to combat remnants of the group in the desert.

(With inputs from agencies.)