One American killed in hostage rescue in Iraq
According to CNN, an American was killed in an otherwise successful rescue of more than 70 hostages from ISIS;
Seventy hostages were liberated in the operation, which involved U.S. special operations troops as well as Kurdish and Iraqi forces, U.S. officials said.
The operation took place in Hawija in northern Iraq, one U.S. source said.
From Business Insider;
The raid was directed against an ISIS run prison to the east of Hawija and featured American helicopters and airstrikes, The New York Times reports citing unnamed Iraqi officials. During the operation Kurdish forces took the lead while US Special Forces and airstrikes provided support.
According to the Iraqi officials, the raid resulted in the freeing of the Kurdish prisoners and the capture of several senior ISIS militants. The Times reports that two unnamed US military officials confirmed the general outline of the operation.
Category: Breaking News, Terror War
….And then we nuked the place from orbit, just to be sure??…..
It’s the only way to be sure…
I realize that my reaction springs from emotion more than intellect here but unless those freed were absolutely, positively known to have been shoulder-to-shoulder with us 100% before their imprisonment, one American lost in liberating them is one too many for me. For all I know right now, we freed child rapists, turncoats, and assorted vermin.
I’m with you. And another thing that pisses me off is that one American life was lost in the process of capturing “several senior ISIS militants”. To what end? Are they to be illegally traded in the future for another Bergdahl type by president momjeans? I say HELL NO.
Those captured will, undoubtedly, be turned over to the Iraqi government, such as it is. Those “senior ISIS militants” will either be released, or “liberated” by their comrades.
Well done, men. Kudos.
In almost every such operation, friendly casualties are an possibly; only rarely are they completely avoided. Don’t have to like that, but it’s the unavoidable truth.
May the fallen soldier rest in peace, and may God comfort his family, colleagues, and friends.
And may there have been many ISIS terrorist bastards KIA – thusly giving Shai’tan much opportunity for fresh amusements in the near term.
“In almost every such operation, friendly casualties are an possibly; only rarely are they completely avoided. Don’t have to like that, but it’s the unavoidable truth.”
WORD. Alas …
I read the BI article and then went further, into another about ISIS’s biggest weakness: their cash flow. The only way they can keep it running is to expand territory. They’ve made promises they can’t and don’t deliver. They have plundered every resource possible, including robbing banks, and are quickly running out of those resources.
Even the AQs are saying they see weaknesses and holes becoming exposed. It appears to me that ISIS may be reaching its limit before long.
The smart thing to do, therefore, is to put more effort into pounding them into the ground… but I know that won’t happen during the current administration.
RIP! Very well done, too.
So much for the Glorious Leader promising no American involvement in ground combat…
People get hurt/killed doing their duty. Rest well, Soldier. Semper Fi.
Why is any American, anywhere, risking his or her life on behalf of these goat fuckers?
In general, I concur, but from what I read of in another article, the Delta Operators were initially observing from the background. The Kurdish commandos that were with them were supposed to be the ones taking the lead in the rescue operation.
However, the Kurdish commandos started taking rounds and were going down, so the Delta Operators took it upon themselves to enter the fight to assist their brothers in arms.
You have to realize the Kurds are probably the only group out there in Iraq that actually give a damn about fighting ISIS and preserving their section of the country. They are the closest thing to an ally we have.
So I commend these Delta Operators in doing what they did, at the cost of one Delta Operator’s life. They wouldn’t have it any other way, honor is honor no matter what country and culture you come from.
“They wouldn’t have it any other way….” I agree with that statement and no one is in any way, shape, or form saying anything negative about the American fighting men. I am certain that they performed splendidly and that they gave much more than they took, shocking the shit out of their opposition. That’s not at issue. What troubles me, if not others, is that we are expending and risking American lives in that shithole again for people who are unworthy of that sacrifice and risk. What you say about the Kurds I regard as true but I have yet to hear any similar explanation for the mission from the wH or the Pentagon. Maybe I missed it.
I do agree with you that the mission and objective itself seem rather muddled. And I don’t think it has been clarified yet other than it being a rescue of prisoners/hostages that were imminently going to be executed (I read that they were digging their own graves)
Rest well, Soldier.
Its about time we start helping the Kurds.
At least they understand the sacrifice.