Six US soldiers injured in mission to kill 15 ISIS fighters in Iraq

A joint U.S. military-Iraqi Security Forces raid in Iraq against ISIS resulted in six American soldiers being injured, though 15 ISIS fighters were killed.

The operation's aim targeted ISIS leaders "to disrupt and degrade ISIS' ability to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against" Iraqi civilians.

"U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces and Iraqi Security Forces conducted a partnered raid in Western Iraq in the early hours of Aug. 29, resulting in the death of 15 ISIS operatives," U.S. Central Command said in a statement . "The ISIS element was armed with numerous weapons, grenades, and explosive 'suicide' belts. There is no indication of civilian casualties."

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None of the six American soldiers' injuries were life-threatening.

"Iraqi Security Forces continue to further exploit the locations raided," the statement continued. "ISIS remains a threat to the region, our allies, as well as our homeland. U.S. CENTCOM alongside our coalition and Iraqi partners, will continue to aggressively pursue these terrorists."

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

“Among the dead were key ISIS leaders,” Iraq’s military said without identifying them. “All hideouts, weapons, and logistical support were destroyed, explosive belts were safely detonated and important documents, identification papers and communication devices were seized.”

CENTCOM said in its statement that it would "provide more information as it becomes available."

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The United States has fought continuously against ISIS since the terrorist group's rise to power in 2014. During the Trump administration, special operations forces helped eliminate top ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi. The Biden administration also eliminated a major ISIS leader, Abu Ibrahim al Hashimi al Qurayshi in 2022.

ISIS has declined in power greatly since its 2014 rise but recently came back to the national spotlight as the group nearly pulled off a terrorist plot at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. Its Afghanistan offshoot, ISIS-K, has also grown in prominence and notoriety.