US-Led Coalition Eliminates Islamic State Senior Leaders: Pentagon

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby confirmed that the US-led coalition airstrikes successfully killed multiple senior and mid-level leaders within the Islamic State.

WASHINGTON, December 19 (Sputnik) – Numerous senior leaders of the Islamic State (IS) have been destroyed during the US-led coalition airstrikes, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby stated.

“I can confirm that since mid-November, targeted coalition airstrikes successfully killed multiple senior and mid-level leaders within the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant,” Kirby said in a statement published Thursday.

Kirby underscored that the loss of “key leaders” diminishes IS ability to command and supervise current operations against Iraqi Security Forces (ISF).

“The success of these airstrikes demonstrates the coalition's resolve in enabling the ISF to disrupt and degrade ISIL as they continue to regain control of their territory,” Kirby concluded.

The US-led international coalition, formed in September, has been performing airstrikes in Syria and Iraq in an effort to eliminate IS extremists.

.@PentagonPresSec says targeted airstrikes successfully killed multiple senior and mid-level leaders within ISIL http://t.co/AD9wEewALK

— U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) December 18, 2014

The IS, also known as ISIL and ISIS, has been fighting the Syrian government since 2012 and has declared a caliphate on the territories it has captured across eastern Syria as well as Northern and Western Iraq. The extremist militant group has been performing public executions, beheadings and hostage-taking among other atrocities.