A U.S. military-led raid in western Iraq resulted in the death of at least 15 Islamic State militants, including some leaders, who engaged in the operation with weapons such as grenades and explosive belts. The purpose of the raid was to disrupt the group’s ability to plan and carry out attacks against Iraqi civilians, U.S. citizens, and allies in the region. Five U.S. soldiers were injured during the raid, but none of the injuries were life-threatening. The operation was in response to recent violent incidents linked to the Islamic State group, including a stabbing attack in Germany and a foiled plot to target a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna.
The Islamic State group emerged in Iraq following the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and expanded into Syria during that country’s civil war. A U.S.-led coalition has made significant progress in liberating territory held by the group, but it still has a global network of affiliates and continues to inspire extremists through online propaganda. The U.S. has deployed troops in Iraq and Syria to prevent the group from reconstituting itself and to limit the influence of Iran-backed militias in the region. Talks between the U.S. and Iraq on ending the military coalition in the country may not be concluded until after the U.S. presidential elections in November, according to reports.
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