In a major military operation, US forces, in collaboration with Iraqi Security Forces, have killed 15 Islamic State (IS) operatives in western Iraq. This joint mission, which took place early on Thursday, aimed at disrupting the leadership of the militant group.

According to US Central Command (Centcom), the operation involved American and Iraqi troops confronting IS members armed with numerous weapons, grenades, and explosive belts. There were no reports of civilian casualties. However, it has been reported that seven American soldiers sustained injuries, though Centcom has not confirmed this.

The Iraqi military detailed that airstrikes were used to target IS hideouts, followed by a ground operation in the desert and cave areas. The strikes successfully destroyed hideouts, weapons, and logistical support while detonating explosive belts and seizing important documents and communication devices.

Centcom emphasized that the mission aimed to "disrupt and degrade" IS’s ability to plan and execute attacks against Americans, Iraqis, and their allies. The US maintains around 2,500 troops in Iraq in a supportive role following the end of combat operations in December 2021.

The operation comes amid heightened concerns over IS's activities following recent attacks linked to the group in Europe. In Germany, a recent attack resulted in three deaths and eight injuries, leading to outrage ahead of state elections. Meanwhile, a thwarted plot targeting a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, uncovered thanks to CIA intelligence, had links to IS.

Additionally, earlier this summer, IS claimed partial responsibility for a rare shooting near a Shia mosque in Muscat, Oman, which left six dead and 28 injured. Despite being largely driven out of Iraq and Syria by a US-led coalition, IS continues to pose a threat through its online propaganda and sporadic attacks.

Intelligence-sharing between European security agencies has curtailed many of IS's coordinated attacks, yet the group's radicalizing influence remains a concern, as noted by experts.

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