U.S., Coalition and Iraqi forces struck down ISIS hideouts on Monday, killing 23 terrorists in a combination of ground and air strikes, according to a CENTCOM statement.
Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) conducting a ground operation called for Coalition air support, which included U.S. Air Force F-15s and drones for strikes and surveillance, along with Iraqi AC-208 Combat Caravan and King Air 350 aircraft.
Bombs and gun runs destroyed the ISIS hideouts, along with weapons and munitions, in the harsh terrain of Wadi Ashai, near Kirkuk, Iraq.
“The ISF’s ability to target and punish Daesh in this isolated territory confirms that these Daesh criminals have no safe haven,” said Col. Matt Brown, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve Task Force-Iraq deputy commander.
The @CJTFOIR and @USAFCENT continue to support our Iraqi partners. This week, the ISF and @coalition air power buried 23 ISIS outlaws south of Kirkuk. #DefeatDaesh💥
بضربة جوية من طيران الجيش العراقي وطائرات التحالف ، قُتل ٢٠ إرهابيا داخل وكرهم https://t.co/GmNomBHWy2 pic.twitter.com/Do3lBekOOo
— OIR Spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III (@OIRSpox) April 17, 2020
The Coalition have partnered with ISF to fight ISIS since 2014.
The U.S. State Department released a statement on Thursday on behalf of the Political Directors of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS.
“The Political Directors agreed to maintain maximum pressure on Daesh/ISIS despite the several and multifaceted challenges, including those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in order to achieve the enduring defeat of the terrorist group in Iraq and Syria, and to remain vigilant against the threat of Daesh/ ISIS around the world,” the statement said.
Statement: ‘Political Directors agreed to maintain maximum pressure on Daesh despite the several and multifaceted challenges, including those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in order to achieve the enduring defeat of the terrorist group’. Full statement: 👇 https://t.co/8jEdcB5Fe6
— The Global Coalition (@coalition) April 16, 2020
The Coalition agreed to sustain “adequate military and civilian means and resources to sustain Coalition efforts in Iraq and Syria.”
Operation Inherent Resolve’s training has been paused due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Coalition vowed to continue when the situation improves.
