U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq dropped about 80,000 pounds of bombs on an island believed to be filled with Islamic State militants.
Massive explosions lit up the island of Qanus, which some are calling “ISIS Island,” early Tuesday morning on the Tigris River. The operation’s goal was to destroy a major transportation hub for ISIS fighters traveling from Syria into Iraq.
U.S. military used Air Force F-15s and the new F-35s to carry out the bombing.
In a statement referring to ISIS by the Arabic word for the group, “Daesh,” Maj. Gen. Eric Hill, commander of Special Operations Joint Task Force said that the massive bombardment was meant to deny “Daesh the ability to hide on Qanus Island.”
“We’re setting the conditions for our partner forces to continue bringing stability to the region,” he added.
Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Col. Myles Caggins III posted a dramatic video of the bombing. The video shows dozens of explosions across the surface of the island. Iraqi counterterrorism troops are seen watching the operation from the ground.
“Here’s what it looks like when @USAFCENT #F15 and #F35 jets drop 36,000 Kg of bombs on a Daesh infested island,” Caggins said in a tweet with the footage.
After the airstrikes, Iraqi special forces conducted ground clearance operations on the island. The bombing will prevent ISIS forces from hiding in the dense vegetation of the island.
