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Pentagon: Several 'High-Value' ISIS Leaders Have Been Killed by Airstrikes

  • Carrie Dedrick Religious persecution, missions, Christianity around the world
  • Updated Dec 19, 2014

The Pentagon reported that several ISIS leaders have been killed from airstrikes in recent weeks. Among the dead is Haji Mutazz, who served as a deputy to ISIS commander Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. 

Fox News reports other senior leaders and mid-level leaders have reportedly been killed as well which has slowed the terrorist group’s progress. 

Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said, "We believe that the loss of these key leaders degrades ISIL's ability to command and control current operations against Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), including Kurdish and other local forces in Iraq. While we do not discuss the intelligence and targeting details of our operations, it is important to note that leadership, command and control nodes, facilities, and equipment are always part of our targeting calculus."

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey shared the opinion that the ISIS loss of life will limit the group’s ability to conquer more area in Iraq and Syria. 

Dempsey told The Wall Street Journal, “It is disruptive to their planning and command and control. These are high-value targets, senior leadership.” 

Publication date: December 19, 2014