Iraqi Airstrikes Target Senior Daesh Leader

Iraqi airstrikes on October 14 killed a senior Daesh leader and three militants, Arab News reported citing the US Central Command (CENTCOM).

The strikes, carried out by Iraqi security forces in northeastern Iraq, were supported by intelligence from the international anti-terror coalition. The deceased leader, Shahadhah Allawi Salih Ulaywi Al-Bajjari, also known as Abu Issa, was identified as the group’s top official in northern Iraq.

The operation aimed to disrupt Daesh attack networks following a joint operation in August that eliminated 14 militants, including four leaders. Currently, around 2,500 US troops are stationed in Iraq and 900 in Syria as part of the coalition, which is set to conclude its military mission in Iraq within a year. However, operations will continue in Syria until September 2026, as Daesh remains active in remote areas despite losing territorial control in 2017 and 2019.