U.S. Central Command Says It Killed Over 600 ISIS Terrorists In Syria, Iraq During 2022

U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment provide security support during mission on Sept. 9, 2018, at an undisclosed location in Syria. (Cpl. Gabino Perez/Marine Corps)

On December 29, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it carried out hundreds of counter-terrorism operations and killed more than 600 terrorists of ISIS in Syria and Iraq this year.

In a statement, the command said that its operations had degraded ISIS and removed a cadre of senior leaders from the battlefield.

During calendar year 2022, CENTCOM conducted 313 total operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria as follows:

In Syria:

• 108 partnered operations;
• 14 US unilateral operations;
• 215 ISIS operatives detained;
• 466 ISIS operatives killed.

In Iraq:

• 191 partnered operations;
• 159 ISIS operatives detained;
• At least 220 ISIS operatives killed.

The CENTCOM claimed that no U.S. troops were wounded or killed during recent counter-terrorism operations in Syria and Iraq.

In Iraq, U.S. forces operate against ISIS in cooperation with local security forces under an official agreement with the government there. However, in Syria Washington maintains forces in several bases in the northeastern region as well as a garrison in the southeast of the country without the consent of the legitimate government. U.S. forces there cooperate with several proxy groups, most notably the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

CENTCOM commander General Michael “Erik” Kurilla praised in the command’s statement both Iraqi security forces and the SDF for their role against ISIS remnants.

“The emerging, reliable and steady ability of our Iraqi and Syrian partner forces to conduct unilateral operations to capture and kill ISIS leaders allows us to maintain steady pressure on the ISIS network,” said Major General Matt McFarlane, commander of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.

The senior commander went on voice concern over more than 30,000 members of ISIS currently held in detention centers in Syria and Iraq.

“CENTCOM sees ISIS in three categories,” said Kurilla. “First, ISIS at large. This is the current generation of ISIS leaders and operatives we are currently fighting in Iraq and Syria. While we have significantly degraded its capability, the vile ideology remains unconstrained. We must continue to pressure ISIS through our partnered operations.”

 

“The second category is ISIS in detention. There is a literal ISIS army in detention in Iraq and Syria. There are, today, more than 10,000 ISIS leaders and fighters in detention facilities throughout Syria and more than 20,000 ISIS leaders and fighters in detention facilities in Iraq.” The January 2022 ISIS prison breakout in al-Hasakah, Syria is a reminder of the risk imposed by these prisons. The ensuing fight to contain the breakout resulted in more than 420 ISIS killed and more than 120 partnered forced killed.

 

“Finally,” Kurilla continued, “we have the potential next generation of ISIS. These are the more than 25,000 children in the al-Howl camp who are in danger. These children in the camp are prime targets for ISIS radicalization. The international community must work together to remove these children from this environment by repatriating them to their countries or communities of origin while improving conditions in the camp.”

The commander concluded the statement by stressing that CENTCOM and its allies in both Syria and Iraqi will remain committed to the “enduring defeat of ISIS” during 2023.

Notably, the CENTCOM didn’t provide any details on civilian casualties during its counter-terrorism operations in Syria and Iraq this year. The command didn’t also provide any timeline for its presence in the two countries.

Syria has been growing frustrated with U.S. military presence on its territory, especially that American troops are occupying key oil and gas fields in the northeastern region and blocking a strategic highway to Iraq in the southeast. Meanwhile, in Iraq pro-Iranian parties remain committed to the goal of ending the military alliance with Washington.

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