US Central Command's operations disrupt ISIS cells in Iraq, Syria

US Central Command (CENTCOM) and allied forces carried out operations in Iraq and Syria as part of the ongoing Defeat ISIS (D-ISIS) campaign from December 30, 2024 to January 6, 2025. 

During this period, CENTCOM and Iraqi forces launched multiple strikes in Iraq’s Hamrin Mountains, targeting known ISIS positions, Caliber.Az reports, citing CENTCOM’s message on X.

The operations aimed to disrupt and weaken ISIS’s capacity to plan, organise, and carry out attacks against civilians in the region, as well as against US citizens, allies, and partners both in the area and globally. Throughout the operations, ISIS fighters engaged Coalition forces multiple times, prompting the use of airstrikes by Coalition aircraft, including F-16s, F-15s, and A-10s. A-10 aircraft, assigned to support ground forces, successfully neutralized ISIS fighters hidden in a cave. 

“Partnered operations like these are critical to maintaining pressure on ISIS and preventing the terrorist group from taking advantage of the rapidly changing security environment in the region. The enduring defeat of ISIS is a global effort that relies on our Coalition, allies, and partners. U.S. Central Command remains committed to aggressively pursuing these terrorists that threaten the region, our allies, and our citizens,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM Commander.

One Coalition member was killed and two others were injured, from two different nations. No US personnel were injured, and there was no damage to US equipment. On January 2-3, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by CENTCOM forces, carried out a D-ISIS operation near Dayr az-Zawr, Syria, resulting in the capture of a leader of an ISIS attack cell. 

The US and members of the multinational Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) continue their unwavering commitment to the fight against ISIS. 

By Naila Huseynova