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The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Monday that a Coalition member was killed and two more were wounded during strikes on ISIS targets in Iraq over the last week.

“From December 30 to January 6, CENTCOM and Iraqi forces conducted multiple strikes in the Hamrin mountains of Iraq, targeting known ISIS locations,” CENTCOM said in a statement. There were no injuries to US personnel or damage to US equipment.

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During operations to degrade ISIS’ ability to conduct attacks on civilians in the Middle East, as well as Americans and citizens from other allied nations, ISIS militants clashed with Coalition forces, according to CENTCOM. Air strikes ensued using F-16, F-15s, and A-10s. “The A-10s tasked to support ground forces in the area were successful in eliminating the ISIS fighters within a cave,” CENTCOM said.

Shortly after the new year, the US military and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) partnered to conduct operations against ISIS near Syria’s Deir Ezzor. They captured an ISIS attack cell leader.

The head of CENTCOM, Gen. Erik Kurilla, said partnered operations were critical to maintaining pressure on ISIS and preventing it from taking advantage of the recent developments in the region, including the fall of the Assad regime. “The enduring defeat of ISIS is a global effort that relies on our Coalition, allies, and partners. US Central Command remains committed to aggressively pursuing these terrorists that threaten the region, our allies, and our citizens,” Kurilla said.

US officials recently admitted that they were hiding the actual number of American boots on the ground in Syria, citing diplomatic and security concerns. For the last several months, the Pentagon has said that there were an estimated 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq as part of their efforts to defeat ISIS. But the Pentagon said the actual number in Syria was 2,000. As for Iraq, “some additional temporary enablers” have also been deployed alongside the 2,500 troops stationed there.

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