15 Islamic State operatives dead in Iraq raid: US CENTCOM

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Friday its forces conducted a partnered raid with the Iraqi Security Forces in western Iraq in the early hours of Aug. 29, resulting in the deaths of 15 Islamic State (ISIS) operatives.

“The ISIS element was armed with numerous weapons, grenades, and explosive “suicide” belts,” CENTCOM said. It also added that there were no indication of civilian casualties in the raid.

Seven American troops were injured in the joint raid, the Associated Press reported later citing the U.S. military.

Five were wounded in the operation while two others were hurt in falls, a U.S. military official told the AP. “All personnel are in stable condition,” the official said.

The U.S. Department of Defense did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the injury toll.

At least five U.S. personnel were injured in an attack earlier this month against a military base in Iraq.

Later, Iraq’s foreign ministry said that an announcement on an end date for the U.S.-led coalition’s mission had been postponed due to the “latest developments”, without identifying the developments.

Reuters reported in March that talks between the U.S. and Iraq on ending the U.S.-led military coalition in the country may not be concluded until after U.S. presidential elections in November.

A rare ally of both the U.S. and Iran, Iraq hosts 2,500 U.S. troops and has Iran-backed militias linked to its security forces.