U.S., Iraqi forces raid targeting Islamic State group militants kills 15 in western desert

U.S. military conducts deadly raid on ISIS militants in Iraq's Anbar Desert, targeting leaders and disrupting operations.

“The U.S. military took part in an Iraqi raid in the country’s western region that killed 15 people as forces targeted suspected militants from the Islamic State group,” the American military said early Saturday (August 31, 2024).

For years after dislodging the militants from their self-declared caliphate across Iraq and Syria, U.S. forces have continued fighting the Islamic State group, though the casualties from Friday’s (August 30) raid were higher than others in the time since.

The U.S. military’s Central Command alleged the militants were armed with “numerous weapons, grenades, and explosive ’suicide’ belts” during the attack Thursday (August 29, 2024), which Iraqi forces said happened in the country’s Anbar Desert.

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“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,” Central Command said, using an acronym for the militant group. “Iraqi Security Forces continue to further exploit the locations raided.”

It added, “There is no indication of civilian casualties.”

An Iraqi military statement said, “Airstrikes targeted the hideouts, followed by an airborne operation.”