Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler was the first American soldier to die in ground combat operations against IS militants.
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The number of Islamic State militants killed was uncertain; reports ranged from six to 20.
Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter told reporters on Friday to expect more raids in the coming months as the US mission to deliver a lasting defeat to the Islamic State continues to evolve. But it does represent a change in our approach to achieving it. I’m determined that we’ll continue to adapt to get results.
One of Wheeler’s representatives in Congress, Republican Sen.
Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma praised Wheeler’s “bravery and sacrifice” in a statement.
Senior Iraqi Shi’ite politician Ayad Allawi said he suspected there must have been significant figures among the hostages to warrant a risky intervention by US special forces.
The war on terror looks a little more staggering when you realize your foe is pulling in over $1 billion from legal oil sales.
Military staff said Wheeler died during a raid in Iraq from wounds received by enemy small-arms fire. He quickly backtracked in the face of criticism. Asked how Thursday’s raid and his promised future assaults differ do not constitute combat, Carter responded: “Americans are flying combat missions, thousands of combat missions, over Syria and Iraqi territory”.
In February 1997, he transitioned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Washington, where he served for over seven years as an infantryman, rifle team leader, squad leader, weapons squad leader, and anti-tank section leader, deploying five times in support of combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. He cited Wheeler as a tragic but heroic example.
” There are no words to express the gratitude for the people who do what Josh did. He turned around and said, ‘I’m going to do that, ‘” Isa said.
“A bullet hit him in the head”, the Kurdish officer said. But when a firefight ensued, Mr Wheeler ran to help Kurdish troops, Mr Carter said.
His body is being returned to the United States on Saturday.
The operation was launched after American surveillance drones reportedly saw a large pit being dug Wednesday in what appeared to be preparation for a mass execution, Kurdish sources said. According to USA officials, after the commandos and hostages departed from the area, an additional set of airstrikes destroyed the compound. In Iraq, they produce around 10,000-20,000 barrels per day, mostly from two oilfields outside Mosul, Ibrahim Bahr al-Oloum, a member of Iraq’s parliamentary energy committee and a former oil minister, told the AP. “Their grave had already been prepared”.
This photo provided by the U.S. Army shows Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler.
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Carter said the US and its Kurdish partners collected valuable intelligence at the scene, including documents and electronics.
