News of a secret U.S. hostage rescue operation came even as military sources in Washington said on Thursday that they conducted six airstrikes in the vicinity of the Mosul Dam using fighter and attack aircraft, during which three ISIL Humvees, one ISIL vehicle and multiple IED emplacements were destroyed or damaged.
“All aircraft exited the strike area safely,” U.S. Central Command confirmed, adding that the strikes were conducted under authority to support Iraqi and Kurdish forces operations, and to protect critical infrastructure, U.S. personnel and facilities, and support humanitarian efforts.
The Pentagon further said that since August 8, U.S. Central Command has conducted a total of 90 airstrikes across Iraq, of which 57 were in support of Iraqi forces near the Mosul Dam.
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