US forces in Iraq today conducted a self-defense strike which killed Mushtaq Jawad Kazim al-Jawari, a leader of the Iran-backed Harakat al-Nujaba terrorist group that is operating both in Iraq and Syria, said the Pentagon press secretary.
Al-Jawari, also known as Abu Taqwa, played an active role in planning and executing attacks against American personnel. Abu Taqwa, alongside another member of Harakat al-Nujaba, was killed in a strike around noon on January 4 in Iraq, as reported by Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder during a briefing today.
It’s crucial to emphasize that the strike was carried out in self-defense, resulting in no harm to civilians and no damage to infrastructure or facilities, according to Ryder.
The United States maintains a military presence in Iraq as part of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve. The mission of CJTF-OIR is to advise, assist, and enable partnered forces in defeating ISIS within designated areas of Iraq and Syria. In Iraq, the U.S. collaborates with both the Iraqi Security Forces and the Kurdish Security Forces to achieve this mission. US forces in Iraq
Ryder underscored that U.S. forces are in Iraq at the invitation of the government of Iraq, solely to support the defeat-ISIS mission. The commitment to closely work with Iraqi partners for the safety and security of U.S. forces remains unwavering. In the face of threats to these forces, the U.S. asserts the inherent right of self-defense, consistent with its approach anywhere else in the world.