US airstrikes ‘kill at least 250 Isis militants’ in Iraq
Officials said at least 40 vehicles were destroyed in the airstrikes
A US-led coalition conducted airstrikes on Wednesday reportedly killing at least 250 Isis militants in the Iraqi city of Fallujah.
The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the number of casualties is subject to change. If the numbers hold true, the strikes will mark one of the most deadly strikes against the terror network.
Officials said at least 40 vehicles were destroyed in the airstrikes.
“There was a strike on a convoy of Isis fighters trying to leave a neighborhood on the outskirts of southern Fallujah that we struck,” one US defense official told Fox News.
The announcement comes one day following the massacre at Turkey’s largest airport that took the lives of 41 people and injured 239 others. While no militant groups have claimed direct responsibility for the bombings, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said that all signs are pointing to the so-called Islamic State group.
“According to analysis by our security forces, first indications point at Daesh as perpetrators,” Yildirim said during a press conference at the airport. “What is noteworthy is that this attack came at a time when our country is putting up a merciless fight against separatist terrorism and recording significant success.”
CIA Chief John Brennan said that the attack display’s the “depravity" of Isis.
"We’ve made, I think, some significant progress, along with our coalition partners, in Syria and Iraq, where most of the Isis members are resident right now," Brennan told reporters in Washington.
In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah
Show all 12"But Isis' ability to continue to propagate its narrative, as well as to incite and carry out these attacks — I think we still have a ways to go before we’re able to say that we have made some significant progress against them.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.