7 US soldiers injured in an attack by Iraqi forces that…

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military and Iraq have launched a joint attack on suspected Islamic State (IS) fighters in the country's western desert, killing at least 15 people and wounding seven U.S. soldiers, officials said Saturday.

After the US armed forces had driven the insurgents out of their self-proclaimed caliphate in Iraq and Syria, they fought the terrorist militia “Islamic State” (IS). However, the losses in this attack were higher than in previous ones.

The US military's Central Command said the militants were armed with “numerous weapons, grenades and explosive 'suicide belts'” in Thursday's attack, which Iraqi forces said took place in the Anbar desert.

“This operation targeted ISIS leaders to disrupt and degrade ISIS's ability to plan, organize, and execute attacks against Iraqi civilians, as well as U.S. citizens, allies, and partners throughout the region and beyond,” Central Command said, using an acronym for the militant group. “Iraqi security forces continue to exploit the raided locations.”

It continued: “There is no evidence of civilian casualties.”

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

“Among the dead were important IS leaders,” the Iraqi military said, without naming them. “All hiding places, weapons and logistical support were destroyed, explosive belts were safely detonated and important documents, identification papers and communication devices were confiscated.”

A U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the operation that have not yet been made public, told The Associated Press that five American soldiers were wounded in the attack, while two others suffered injuries when they fell during the operation. One of those who fell was transported out of the area, while one of the wounded was evacuated for further treatment, the official said.

“The condition of all employees is stable,” the official said.

It was not immediately clear why the US took two days to admit its involvement in the attack. Iraq did not declare that the US was involved in the operation when it was first announced, while politicians are debating the future of US troops in the country. There are about 2,500 US soldiers stationed in Iraq.

Since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, the country has struggled to find a balance in relations between America and neighboring Iran. Since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas, Iraqi militias allied with Iran have been attacking US forces, leading to targeted American air strikes on them.

At its peak, Islamic State controlled an area half the size of Britain and sought to impose its extreme interpretation of Islam, which included attacks on religious minorities and harsh punishments for Muslims deemed apostates.

To combat the group, a coalition of more than 80 countries was formed under the leadership of the United States, which lost control of the areas it controlled in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019.

However, the militants continue to operate in the Anbar Desert in Iraq and Syria and claim responsibility for attacks they have inspired by other groups around the world. These include the two suspects in a foiled attack plot on Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna. The IS offshoot in Afghanistan is known for its extremely bloody attacks.

Last month, the U.S. military said the number of attacks claimed by ISIS in Syria and Iraq would double this year compared to last year. ISIS claimed responsibility for 153 attacks in the two countries in the first six months of 2024, compared to 121 attacks in all of 2023.

Iraqi officials believe they can contain the IS threat with their own forces and have begun talks with the United States aimed at ending the U.S.-led coalition's mission in Iraq.

Since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip last October, the US military presence in the region has become a particularly controversial issue.

A coalition of Iranian-backed militias calling themselves the Islamic Resistance in Iraq have launched regular drone attacks on US military bases in Iraq and Syria. They say the attacks are retaliation for Washington's support for Israel in the ongoing war in Gaza and are aimed at forcing US troops to withdraw from Iraq.

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Associated Press writers Abby Sewell in Beirut and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Boston contributed to this report.