Iraqi airstrikes target Islamic State positions in Syria

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraqi warplanes pounded two Islamic State (IS) positions in Syria on Tuesday, resulting in 40 casualties and destroying various weaponry belonging to the extremist group, announced the Joint Operations Command (JOC).

“Under the guidance of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and under the supervision of the Joint Operations Command,” a statement read, F-16 fighter jets “carried out airstrikes inside Syrian territory today,” where multiple IS militants were present. 

According to the statement, the first operation resulted in "the death of 10 IS fighters" and the demolition of a weapons depot and additional rockets and explosives "belonging to Da’esh [IS] in the al-Sousa area.”

Sousa is a geographical area located along the Iraqi border outside Hajin, the last territory still held by IS in Syria.

The raids were focused on areas to which the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are now advancing in a campaign supported by the US-led anti-IS Coalition.

Another attack “was launched on the al-Baghouz area, targeting a headquarters of the so-called al-Faruq Corps, where there were 30 terrorists, rockets, missiles, and various rifles.”

“The two targets were completely destroyed, according to intelligence," added the statement, which did not clearly make a claim as to whether or not all IS members in the area had been killed.

In mid-October, the Iraqi air force carried out a similar operation, destroying the extremist group’s “operations room” in Syria.

“Those terrorists who were killed were planning criminal operations using suicide vests and intended to target innocents in the next few days inside Iraq,” the military said at the time.

Since 2017, the Iraqi army has conducted many strikes on IS positions inside Syria with approval from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the US-led coalition.

In June, air raids by Iraqi warplanes killed at least 45 IS members, including senior leaders, in the town of Hajin along the Syria-Iraq border

Despite Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s “final victory” announcement over the extremist group last December, IS continues to carry out sporadic ambushes, suicide attacks, bombings, and kidnappings in areas across Iraq formerly liberated from the group.

Editing by John J. Catherine