The U.S., along with security forces in Iraq and Syria, carried out 95 operations to counter ISIS in the past 60 days, leading to the killing of 163 terrorists and the seizure of “significant enemy material.”

The U.S. Central Command provided the update, which comes amid high tensions in the region amid the war in Gaza and attacks in Lebanon, in a press release on Monday. 

What You Need To Know

  • The U.S., along with security forces in Iraq and Syria, carried out 95 operations to counter ISIS in the past 60 days, leading to the killing of 163 terrorists and the seizure of “significant enemy material," per U.S. Central Command

  • The counterterrorism efforts in the Middle East, referred to as Defeat ISIS (D-ISIS) operations by the command, included unilateral strikes in Syria and also resulted in the capture of 33 members of Islamic State groups; Of the 163 and 33 captured, more than 30 were senior and mid-level ISIS leaders, according to the command
  • It comes as President Joe Biden on Monday called U.S. service members to thank them for “recent successful counterterrorism operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria,” according to the White House
  • U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have been regularly targeted by drone attacks launched by Iran-backed militias against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the region, particularly the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza

The counterterrorism efforts in the Middle East, referred to as Defeat ISIS (D-ISIS) operations by the command, included unilateral strikes in Syria and also resulted in the capture of 33 members of Islamic State groups. Of the 163 and 33 captured, more than 30 were senior and mid-level ISIS leaders, according to the command. 

“Alongside our coalition and Iraqi partners, we will continue to aggressively pursue these terrorists and disrupt their capability to conduct operations against U.S. interests, as well as those of our allies and partners,” Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla said in a statement. 

The command noted that the seizure of enemy material could help with future disruptions and the sustained pressure by U.S. forces and partners in the region has hindered ISIS leaders’ ability to plan and carry out attacks. 

It comes as President Joe Biden on Monday called U.S. service members to thank them for “recent successful counterterrorism operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria,” according to the White House. 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday also spoke over the phone with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani, urging him to “exert control” over groups launching attacks from the country and stressing the importance of Iraq not being drawn into the regional conflict in the Middle East, according to the State Department. 

“The Secretary called on the Iraqi government to fulfill its commitments to protect U.S. personnel and to pursue those responsible for attacks from Iraq on U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria, including from attacks by Iran-aligned militias,” State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller added of the call in a statement. 

The pair also discussed efforts to end the war in Gaza and reach a resolution in Lebanon, according to the statement. 

U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have been regularly targeted by drone attacks launched by Iran-backed militias against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the region, particularly the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. 

Last month, two U.S. service members were injured in an operation in Iraq that killed multiple ISIS operatives, according to the Pentagon. 

The U.S. has had a continuous presence in Iraq since its 2003 invasion. Earlier this year, the U.S. and Iraq began formal talks to bring the mission of the U.S.-led military coalition, formed to fight the Islamic State, to an end. 

In September, the U.S. announced an agreement with the Iraqi government to wrap up the military mission by next year but did not provide details on how many of the approximately 2,500 U.S. troops still serving in Iraq will remain there or whether it will mark a full withdrawal from the country.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.