U.S. and Iraqi Forces Conduct Major Counterterrorism Operation Against ISIS

Significant Counterterrorism Operation Against ISIS in Iraq

In a landmark counterterrorism operation against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq, U.S. military forces, alongside Iraqi commandos, successfully eliminated four high-ranking insurgent leaders last month. This operation, which took place on August 29, represents a substantial setback for the group at a time when their attacks are reportedly increasing in both Iraq and Syria.

According to statements released by the Pentagon’s Central Command and U.S. counterterrorism officials, the raid targeted multiple ISIS hideouts in western Iraq, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 insurgents and significantly disrupting the group’s leadership structure within the country.

Among those killed was Abu Ali al-Tunisi, a Tunisian national who had a $5 million bounty on his head from the U.S. government. Al-Tunisi was recognized as one of ISIS’s most pivotal figures, serving as a designer, manufacturer, and educator in the field of explosives, which included improvised explosive devices, suicide vests, and car bombs, as noted by counterterrorism experts.

Additionally, the operation resulted in the elimination of the top ISIS commander responsible for all operations in Iraq, as well as two senior commanders overseeing operations in western Iraq. According to Charles Lister, director of the Middle East Institute’s Syria and counterterrorism programs, “The raid appears to have effectively killed off ISIS’s entire command in Anbar.” This province, Anbar, has long been a stronghold for violent Sunni extremists.

Despite the significance of this mission, Central Command and the Iraqi military provided limited details about the raid when it was initially announced on August 30. Nevertheless, it stands out as one of the most comprehensive counterterrorism actions in Iraq in recent years.