Iraqi F-16s strike ISIS hideout in Hamrin Mountains

DIYALA — The Iraqi Joint Operations Command announced that F-16 fighter jets carried out a series of airstrikes on an ISIS hideout in the Hamrin Mountain Range in Diyala Governorate on Thursday morning. The operation resulted in the destruction of the hideout and the killing of all individuals present, according to Iraqi Joint Operations Command.

“The relentless airstrikes continue to cripple the defeated ISIS elements and thwart their desperate, malicious intentions,” the Joint Operations Command said in a statement. The strikes took place at 7:00 a.m., based on intelligence gathered through thermal cameras and coordinated efforts by the Military Intelligence Directorate, under the supervision of the Joint Operations Command’s targeting cell.

The statement added that the airstrike destroyed a fuel tank, ammunition, and logistical supplies at the location, which had been used as a base for ISIS militants’ movement and support activities in the area.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani commented on the ongoing operations against ISIS, stating, “Remnants of the Islamic State are no longer a threat to Iraq, with the country enjoying security and stability and on a trajectory of recovery.” His remarks coincided with the tenth anniversary of the fall of Mosul to the group.

ISIS, which captured large parts of Iraq in 2014, including Mosul, was territorially defeated in the country in 2017. However, the group remains active through attacks, bombings, and abductions, particularly in the Syrian desert and some Iraqi governorates.

On May 3, 2024, Iraq’s national security service announced the arrest of 20 ISIS members in the Nineveh, al-Anbar, and Kirkuk regions.

Between January and June this year, ISIS claimed responsibility for 153 attacks across Iraq and Syria. “ISIS is on pace to more than double the total number of attacks they claimed in 2023,” U.S. Central Command said in a July 17 statement, noting that the uptick indicates the group’s attempt to rebuild following years of diminished capability.

General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of CENTCOM, highlighted that U.S. forces continue targeting ISIS members planning operations beyond Syria and Iraq.