US, Iraqi forces unleash airstrike on ISIS targets, kill terrorists hiding in cave

U.S. and coalition forces over the past week conducted airstrikes in Iraq, including killing Islamic State fighters hiding in a cave and capturing a cell leader in Syria, officials said Monday. 

The strikes occurred in the Hamrin mountains in northeast Iraq from Dec. 30 through Monday, targeting ISIS locations, U.S. Central Command said. 

Iraqi Army soldiers celebrate as they hold a flag of the Islamic State group they captured during a military operation to regain control of a village outside Mosul, Iraq, Nov. 29, 2016.  (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, File)

“During the operations, ISIS fighters engaged Coalition forces on several occasions, resulting in the employment of Coalition air strikes,” CENTCOM said. 

At one point, the jets were used to take out ISIS fighters hiding in a cave, officials said. 

One coalition member was killed and two others from different nations were wounded. No U.S. personnel were injured, and no damage to any U.S. equipment was reported. 

In addition, from Jan. 2-3, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), enabled by CENTCOM forces, captured an ISIS cell leader during an operation near Deir ez-Zor, Syria.