Erstmals US-Soldat im Kampf gegen ISIS gefallen

Iraq_inherent_resolve_us_apr2015

Bei einer Operation von US-Spezialkräften und kurdischen Peshmerga-Kämpfern ist am (heutigen) Donnerstag erstmals ein US-Soldat im Kampf gegen die islamistischen ISIS-Milizen im Irak gefallen. Die US-Truppen unterstützten die Kurden bei einem Einsatz, mit dem Gefangene des ISIS befreit werden sollten.

Die offizielle Mitteilung des Pentagon (in der das Akronym ISIL für ISIS/IS/Daesh verwendet wird):

Early today in Iraq, at the request of the Kurdistan Regional Government, U.S. Special Operations Forces supported an Iraqi Peshmerga operation to rescue hostages at an ISIL prison near Hawijah, Iraq.
This operation was deliberately planned and launched after receiving information that the hostages faced imminent mass execution. It was authorized consistent with our counter-ISIL effort to train, advise, and assist Iraqi forces.

The U.S. provided helicopter lift and accompanied Iraqi Peshmerga forces to the compound. Approximately 70 hostages were rescued including more than 20 members of the Iraqi Security Forces. Five ISIL terrorists were detained by the Iraqis and a number of ISIL terrorists were killed as well. In addition, the U.S. recovered important intelligence about ISIL.
One U.S. service member was wounded during the rescue mission acting in support of Iraqi Peshmerga forces after they came under fire by ISIL. He
subsequently died after receiving medical care. In addition, four Peshmerga soldiers were wounded.
On behalf of the men and women of the Department of Defense, we offer our sincere condolences to the family of the U.S. service member who was killed in this operation. The U.S. and our coalition will continue to work with our Iraqi partners to degrade and defeat ISIL, and return Iraq to the full control of its people.

Einige weitere Einzelheiten bei der New York Times:

Providing new details about the operation, a senior Defense Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a classified operation, said that five American helicopters had been involved, including Chinook and Black Hawk choppers. The American forces involved were part of the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command.
The American and Kurdish commandos had expected to rescue about 20 prisoners only to find 70, underscoring the complications of gathering accurate intelligence in a militant-controlled area. The Defense Department official said that there had been a heavy firefight.

(Archivbild: US-Ausbildung für irakische Soldaten im April 2015 – Sgt. Cody Quinn, CJTF-OIR Public Affairs)